THE  GIFT  OF 

FLORENCE  V.  V.  DICKEY 

TO  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


THE  DONALD  R.  DICKEY 

LIBRARY 
OF  VERTEBRATE  ZOOLOGY 


the 


*»§ 


LITTLE,  BROWN  &  CO. 
BOSTON. 


k 


/ 
- 


HOW    TO    KNOW 

THE 

SHORE  BIRDS 

(LIMICOL/E) 
OF 

NORTH    AMKRICA 

(SOUTH  OF  GREENLAND  AND  ALASKA) 

AIJ,   THE    SPECIES    BEING    GROUPED    ACCORDING    TO    SIZE    AND    COLOR 


BY 

CHARLES   B.  CORY 

Curator  of  the  Department  of  Ornithology  in  the  Field  Columbian  Museum,  Chicago;  Fellow  of  the 

Linncean  and  Zoological  Societies  of  London;  Member  of  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union, 

and  of  the  British   Ornithologists'   Union ;   Honorary   Member  of  the  California 

Academy  of  Sciences;  Cor.  Member  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences,  etc.,  etc. 


AUTHOR  OF  "THE  BEAUTIFUL  AND  CURIOUS  BIRDS  OF  THE  WORLD,"  "THE  BIRDS  OF  THE  BAHAMA 

ISLANDS,"  "THE  BIRDS  OF   HAITI  AND  SAN  DOMINGO,"  "THE  BIRDS  OF  THE   WEST 

INDIES,"  "A  NATURALIST  IN  THE  MAGDALEN   ISLANDS,"  "HUNTING  AND 

FISHING  IN  FLORIDA,"  "  KEY  TO  THE  WATER  BIRDS  OF  FLORIDA," 

"  HOW  TO  KNOW  THE  DUCKS,  GEESE  AND  SWANS,"  ETC.,  ETC. 


, 

FOR    SALE    BY 

LITTLE,    BROWN    &    CO 
BOSTON 

1897 


COPYRIGHTED, 

CHARLES    B.    CORY, 

BOSTON, 

1897. 


ALKKKI)  ML'DOK  &   SON,   PRINTERS, 
24  FRANKLIN   STREET. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

PREFACE      .          ,          ...          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  5 

HOW  TO  MEASURE  A  BlRD   ..........  7 

GLOSSARY    .............  9 

INDEX  TO  KEY     ............  11 

KEY  TO  THE    SHORE   BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA    KNOWN  TO  OCCUR  SOUTH  OF 

GREENLAND  AND  ALASKA       .         .          .          .          .          .         .          .          .  13 

GROUP  1.     Birds  having  wings  measuring  from  3.25  to  3.75  inches  long            .  13 

"       2.         "          "          "            "               "     3. 75  to  4. 50       "          "              .  14 

"        3.         "          "          u            "'               "     4.50  to  5.50       "          "              .  16 

"       4.         "          "          "            "                "     5.50  to  6.75       "          "              .  21 

"       5.         "          "         "           "               "     6.75  to  9             "                        .  24 

"       6.         "          "          "            "               "     9  to  12                 "          "             .  28 

FAMILY  PHALAROPODID^E.     The  Phalaropes    .          .          .          .          .          .          .  31 

"        RECUR  VIROSTRID.E.     The  Avocets  and  Stilts       ....          .35 

"        SCOLOPACIDYE.     The  Snipes,  Sandpipers,  etc.    .....  38 

'•        CHARADRIIDJE.     The  Plovers    .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  71 

"        APHRIZID^K.     The  Surf  Birds  and  Turnstones  .          .          .          .          .  79 

"        H^MATOPODID^:.     The  Oyster  Catchers    ......  82 

"        JACANID.E.     The  Jacanas         . 85 

INDEX  87 


395909 
B     1765 


PREFACE. 


The  present  work  is  intended  to  meet  the  wants  of  a  large  number  of  persons, 
especially  sportsmen,  who  are  interested  in  birds  and  would  like  to  know  their  names, 
but  often  find  it  no  easy  task  to  identify  them  by  the  "  bird  books."  To  all  such  I 
offer  this  Key,  in  which  the  species  are  arranged  in  groups  according  to  size,  and 
believe  it  will  enable  any  one  unfamiliar  with  birds  to  identify  with  comparative  ease 
any  species  of  our  North  American  Shore  Birds. 

Birds  vary  so  much  in  size  that  the  length  of  any  one  specimen  cannot  be  accepted 
as  a  standard  for  others  of  the  same  species.  The  length  measure  is,  nevertheless, 
of  value  to  enable  us  to  form  an  approximate  idea  of  the  size  of  the  bird.  The  length 
of  the  iving  is,  however,  much  less  variable,  and  is  an  important  aid  to  the  identifica- 
tion of  many  species.  In  fact,  the  variation  is  so  small  and  constant  that,  .allowing 
for  possible  extremes,  they  may  be  arranged  in  groups  according  to  length  of  wing. 
The  identification  of  any  species  then  becomes  a  very  simple  matter,  as  usually  the 
birds  contained  in  each  group  are  so  few  in  number  that  characteristic  differences  in 
each  species' are  easily  indicated. 

Let  us  assume,  for  example,  we  have  before  us  a  bird  which  we  wish  to  identify. 
We  first  measure  the  wing  (see  directions  for  measurements,  illustrated,  page  7).  We 
find  the  wing  measures  nine  inches  long.  We  now  turn  to  the  "Index  to  Key" 
(page  12),  and  find  that  Group  6  contains  birds  having  the  wing  measuring  from  nine 
to  twelve  inches  long,  and  is  divided  into  three  sections  ;  Sections  1  and  2  compris- 
ing birds  having  four  toes,  and  Section  3,  birds  with  three  toes.  '  Our  bird  has  four 
toes,  so  we  look  for  it  under  Section  1  or  2.  We  find  that  birds  under  Section  1  have 
the  bill  curved  downward,  and  birds  under  Section  2  have  the  bill  curved  upward,  or 
neai'ly  straight.  Our  bird  has  the  bill  curved  downward.  We  therefore  look  for  it 
under  Section  1.  We  find  but  two  birds  included  under  Section  1  ;  one  with  axillars 
reddish  brown,  marked  with  black,  and  the  other  having  the  axillars  banded  with  slat}' 


6  PREFACE. 

browu  and  dull  white.  As  the  bird  before  us  has  slaty  brown  axillars  banded  with 
dull  white,  it  must  be  the  Hudsonian  Curlew,  Numenius  hudsonicus.  The 'axillary 
plumes  are  often  a  very  important  aid  in  determining  a  species,  and  the  beginner 
should  learn  where  to  look  for  them  and  to  recognize  them  at  a  glance.  (See  cut, 
page  10.) 

All  measurements  of  birds  are  given  in  inches  and  fractions  of  an  inch.  The 
following  diagrams  will  illustrate  how  a  bird  should  be  measured,  and  the  chart  (page 
10)  will  be  useful  to  the  young  student  of  ornithology  who  may  not  be  familiar  with 
the  technical  terms  used  in  describing  birds.  Such  terms  as  primaries  and  axillars 
should  be  learned  at  once.  It  is  customary  to  indicate  the  sexes  by  the  signs  of 
Mars  and  Venus;  the  male,  of  course,  being  given  that  of  Mars,  $,  and  the  female, 
Venus,  9. 

In  preparing  the  Key,  a  large  number  of  birds  were  examined  and  measured.  In 
this  connection,  my  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  of  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History ;  and  to  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  for  the 
loan  of  many  specimens  for  examination ;  and  especially  to  Mr.  William  Brewster, 
for  free  access  to  his  magnificent  collection  in  Cambridge. 

The  illustrations  are  the  work  of  Mr.  Edward  Knobel. 

CHARLES   B.    CORY. 
BOSTON,  MASS.,  June  20,  1897. 


HOW  TO  MEASURE  A  BIRD. 


Length 


8  HOW    TO    MEASURE    A    BIRD. 

Wing.  Distance  from  carpal  joint  C  (bend  of  wing)  to  the  tip  of  the  longest  pri- 
mary D.  See  cut  on  page  7. 

Length.  Distance  in  a  straight  line  from  the  end  of  the  bill  to  the  tip  of  the  longest 
tail  feather.  (Occasionally  the  middle  feathers  are  much  elongated,  as 
in  the  Old  Squaw  and  Pintail  Duck,  and  in  other  families  of  birds,  such 
as  Pha?thon  and  Stercorarius.  In  such  cases  it  is  well  to  give  the  length 
from  bill  to  longest  tail  feather,  and  also  to  end  of  outer  tail  feather.) 

Tail,  Distance  from  the  tip  of  the  longest  tail  feather  to  its  base  (the  point  where  it 
enters  the  body). 

Bill.  The  distance  in  a  straight  line  from  where  the  bill  (upper  mandible)  joins  the 
skin  of  the  forehead  (A)  to  the  tip  (B).  (There  are  a  few  exceptions  to 
this  rule,  such  as  birds  with  frontal  plate,  etc.  Some  curved  bills  are 
measured  along  the  curve  of  the  culmen,  and  at  times  it  is  advisable 
to  measure  from  the  nostril  to  the  tip  of  the  bill,  but  in  such  cases  it 
should  always  be  so  stated.) 

Tarsus.  Distance  \i\front  of  the  leg  from  what  appears  to  be  the  knee  joint  (end  of 
tibia)  to  the  root  of  the  middle  toe.  All  measurements  are  given  in  inches 
and  fractions  of  an  inch. 


GLOSSARY. 


Nearly  all  the  terms  used  in  describing  a  bird  may  be  more  easily  and  clearly 
understood  by  examining  the  accompanying  figure  than  from  a  written  description ; 
a  few,  however,  may  require  a  word  of  explanation. 

Mandibles.  —  Some  authors  use  the  word  maxilla  for  the  upper  half  of  the  bill,  and 
mandible  for  the  lower.  I  prefer,  however,  to  describe  the  two  halves  of  the  bill 
as  upper  and  lower  mandible. 

Culmen.  — The  ridge  of  the  upper  mandible. 
Qonys.  —  Lower  outline  (middle)  of  under  mandible. 

Unguis. — The  nail  on  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible ;  very  pronounced  in  several 
families  of  water  birds,  —  Ducks,  Pelicans,  and  Petrels. 

Axillars  or  Axillary  Plumes.  —  Several  elongated  feathers  at  the  junction  of  the 
wing  and  body.  (Lat.  axilla,  the  arm-pit.) 

Speculum. — Awing  baud  or  patch  (usually  of  a  different  color  from  the  rest  of 
the  wing),  formed  by  the  terminal  portion  of  the  secondaries;  very  noticeable  in 
the  Ducks. 

Tarsus.  —  Extends  from  the  root  of  the  toes  to  the  end  of  the  tibia  (what  apjtears  to 
be  the  bend  of  the  leg  or  knee ;  but  which  is,  in  reality,  the  heel  joint). 

Superciliary  Stripe.  —  Stripe  over  the  eye. 


10 


GLOSSARY. 


Under  Primary  .Covert* 


Axittars  or  Axillary  Plumes 


-—- A£7a<fcr  Tail  Coverts  or  Crissum 


!  \        Superciliary  Strip* 


Upper  MofibU-^ore,     -CVy* 
\          Forehead'  ' • 


culars  or  Ear  Covertt 

Nape  Wing  of  Duck  showing  speculum. 


-  Malar  Region  or  Cheek 
-  Side  of  Neck          Back 


Carpal  Joint  - 
Lttttr  Wing  Covert* '' 
Middle  Wing  Covertt  - 

Greater  Covertt 


"\U>uler  Tail  Covertt 
r  Cristum. 


Fatal  Tubet    / 
Vnyui,               \ 
or  NaiT)f^_  ^=* ^-> 


Bill  of  Fulmar  Petrel.    Outer^'oe    \ 

Middle  Toe 

Inner  Tot 


Black- breast  Plover. 


Hind  Toe 


INDEX    TO    KEY. 


PAGE 

Group   1.      Birds  having  wings  from  3.25  to  3.75  inches  long          .          .  13 

Group  2.      Birds  having  wings  from  3.75  to  4.50  inches  long  .          .  14 

Section  1.  Toes  4,  with  small  lobate  webs  .  .  .  .  14 
Section  2.  "  4,  "  "  webs  (not  lobate)  between  toes  at 

base    .          .          .         .         .         ...         .          .  14 

Section  3.     Toes  4,  without  webs        ......  14 

Section  4.  "3,  bill  under  .60  .  .  .  .  .  15 

Section  5.  "  3,  "  over  .60 15 

Group  3.  Birds  having  wings  from  4.50  to  5.50  inches  long  .  .  16 

Section  1.  Toes  4,  a  small  web  between  toes;  bill  under  1.75  .  16 

Section  2.  "  4,  "  "  "  "  "  over  1.75  .  17 

Sections.  "  4,  without  webs ;  bill  over  2  .  .  .  -  17 
Section  4.  "4,  "  "  "  over  1.10  and  less  than 

1.90 18 

Sections.  Toes  4,  without  webs  ;  bill  under  1.10  ...  19 

Section  6.  "  3,  bill  over  .60 20 

Section  7.  "  3,  "  under  .60 20 

Group  4.  Birds  having  wings  from  5.50  to  6.75  inches  long  .  .  21 
Section  1 .  Toes  4,  a  small  web  between  outer  and.  middle  toe  ; 

bill  over  1.80 21 

Section  2.  Toes  4,  a  small  web  between  outer  and  middle  toe; 

bill  under  1.80 '.  21 

Section  3.  Toes  4,  with  small  lobate  webs  ....  22 

Section  4.  "  4,  without  webs  ;  bill  over  2  ....  22 

Section  5.  "  4,  "  "  "  under  2  .  .  .  .  22 

(11) 


12 


INDEX    TO    KEY. 


PACK 

Group  5.      Birds  having  wings  from  6.75  to  9  inches  long     ...  24 

Section  1.     Toes  4,  with  more  or  less  web ;  bill  curved  upward  or 

straight, — bill  over  2.60  inches  long  ...  24 
Section  2.  Toes  4,  without  webs  ;  bill  nearly  straight,  — bill  over 

2.60  inches  long 25 

SectionB.  Toes  4,  with  small  web;  bill  curved  upward  or 

straight,  —  bill  under  2.60  and  over  1.50  inches  .  25 
Section  4.  Toes  4,  with  small  web;  bill  nearly  straight,  —  bill 

under  1.50  inches           ......  26 

Section  5.  Toes  4,  with  small  web  ;  bill  curved  downward,  —  bill 

over  2  inches         .          .          .          .          .          .          .  27 

Section  6.     Toes  4,  without  webs  :  bill  under  1.50       ...  27 

Section  7.     Toes   3   .........  27 

Group  6.      Birds  having  wings  from  9  to  12  inches  long         ...  28 

Section  1 .     Toes  4  ;  bill  curved  downward           ....  28 

Section  2.  "  4;  •'  "  upward  or  nearly  straight  .  .  29 

Section  3.  "  3;  "  nearly  straight 21) 


KEY  TO  THE  SPECIES. 


GROUP  I. 

Birds  having  wings  from  3.25  inches  to  3.75  inches  long.* 


Tringa  minutilla. 

No  web  between  toes. 

Least  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  minutilla. 
See  page  48. 

Toes  with  small  web;  bill,  usually  under  .85. 

Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 

Ereunetex  pusillus. 
'  See  page  51. 

Toes  with  small  web;  bill,  usually  over  .85. 

Western  Sandpiper. 

Ereunetes  occidentalis. 
Kreunetes    pnsillus.  _ 

(Foot.)  See  page  o2. 

*  For  directions  for  measure  nent,  see  page  8. 


14  KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

GROUP  II. 

Birds  having  wings  from  3.75  to  4.50  inches  long. 
Section   1.     Toes,  4,  with  small  lobate  webs. 

More  or  less  rufous  on  sides  of  neck. 

Northern  Phalarope. 

Phalarojmx  lobatus. 
See  page  33. 

Section  2.     Toes,  4,  with  small  web  (not  lobate)  at  base. 


Bill,   under  .85:    hack,    not  greenish   olive;    bill,  entirely 
black. 

Semipalmated  Sandpiper. 

Ernmetex  pusillus. 

See  page  51. 

KreiineteH  |ui-illn-. 

Bill,  over  .85;  bai-k,  not  greenish  olive;  bill,  black;  no  white  patch  on  inner 
webb  of  third  primary. 

Western  Sandpiper. 

Ereunetes  occidental™. 
See  page  52. 

Small  web  between  outer  and  middle  toe;  bill,  over  .85;  back,  greenish  olive, 
sometimes  banded;  under  mandible,  pale  yellow  (in  life);  third  primary  and 
inner  primaries  with  patch  of  white  on  inner  web. 

Spotted  Sandpiper. 

Actites  macularia. 
See  page  66. 

Section  3.     Toes,  4,  without  web. 


Belly,  white;  bill,  black. 

Least  Sandpiper. 

Trinya  minutilla. 
See  page  48. 


Trinya  ininutillii. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


15 


Section  4.     Toes,  3 ;  bill,  under  .60. 


Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black ;    legs,  dull  flesh  color ;  a 
black  stripe  from  bill  passing  under  eye. 

Semipalmated  Plover. 

Aegialitis  semipalmata. 

See  page  75. 


Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black;  the  legs,  orange  yellow;  two  middle  tail 
feathers,  tipped  with  white;  no  black  stripe  from  bill  to  eye;  black  breast 
baud  not  confluent.  Species  not  found  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Piping  Plover. 

Aegialitis  meloda. 
See  page  75. 

Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black ;  legs,  orange  yellow ;  middle  tail  feathers, 
tipped  with  white;  no  black  stripe  from  bill  to  eye;  a  continuous  black 
band  on  breast.  Species  not  found  west  of  Rocky  Mountains. 

Belted  Piping  Plover. 

Aegialitis  meloda,  circnmcincta. 
See  page  70. 


Aegialitis  nivosa. 


Bill,  entirely  black ;  legs,  slate  color ;  two  outer  tail  feathers,  en- 
tirely white;  two  middle  feathers,  not  tipped  with  wThite;  no 
black  stripe  from  bill  to  eye.  Ranges  from  Texas  and  Kansas 
west  to  the  Pacific  Ocean;  casual  in  Western  Florida  and 
Cuba;  not  known  to  occur  on  the  Atlantic  Coast. 

Snowy  Plover. 

Aegialitis  nivosa. 

See  page  76. 


Section  5.     Toes,  3;  bill,  over  .60. 


Aegialitis  Wilsonia. 


A  very  small  web  between  outer  and  middle  toes ;  bill,  large 
and  thick;   a  band  of  black    (male)  or  brown  (female)  on 

breast. 

Wilson's  Plover. 

Aegialitis  inilsonia. 
See  page  77. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


No  web  between  toes;  bill,  not  thick. 


Sanderling  Sandpiper. 

Cnlidris  arenaria. 
See  page  53. 


Caledris  arenaria. 

GROUP  III. 

Birds  having  wings  measuring  from  4.50  to  5.50  inches  long 
Section  1.  Toes,  4,  a  small  web  between  toes;  bill,  under  1.75. 

Bill,  under  1 .75.  Tarsus,  over  1 .30.  All  other  species  in  this  section  have  the 
tarsus  less  than  1.30.  Stilt  Sandpiper. 

Micropdlama  h imantopus. 
See  page  42. 

Tarsus,  under  1.3O.  Back,  dark  olive  spotted  with 
white,  or  brownish  gray  spotted  with  dull  white,  ac- 
cording to  season.  Axillars,  heavily  barred;  a  small 
web  between  the  outer  and  middle  toe. 

Solitary  Sandpiper. 
Totanns  solitarius. 
See  page  50. 

Back,  greenish  olive,  sometimes  barred  with  black;  axillars,  white  without  bars. 
At  some  seasons  underparts  with  round  black  spots ;  a  small  web  between  the 
outer  and  middle  toe.  Spotted  Sandpiper. 

Actitis  macularia. 
See  page  66. 

Back,  heavily  streaked  with  black  and  tawny;  belly,  reddish 
brown,  showing  more  or  less  white ;  toes,  with  small 
lobate  webs. 

Red  Phalarope. 

Crymoph  ilns  fiiHrariu*. 
See  page  32. 


Back,  grayish,  streaked  with  tawny;  belly,  white;  toes,  partly 
webbed;  bill,  under  1.05;   tarsus,  under  1. 

Northern  Phalarope. 
Phalaropus  lobatus. 
See  page  33. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  17 


Back,    grayish,    marked    with    chestnut    brown;    belly, 
white;  bill,  over  1.05  ;  tarsus,  over  1. 

Wilson's  Phalarope. 

Phalaropus  tricolor,  female. 
See  page  34. 


Phalaropus  tricolor. 


Buck,  grayish,  mottled  with  dusky  or  whitish ;  bill,  over  1.05 ;  tarsus,  over  1  inch. 

Wilson's  Phalarope. 

Phalaropus  tricolor,  male. 
See  page  34. 

Section  2.    Toes,  4,  a  small  web  between  outer  and 
middle  toes;  bill,  over  1.75. 


Macrorhamphus  griseus.  Macrorhamphus  griseus. 

Bill,  over  1 .75.     Axillars,  white,  barred  with  dark  brown ;  rump  and  tail,  white, 
spotted  and  banded  with  black. 

Dowitcher,  Red-breasted  Snipe. 

Macrorhamphus  yriseus, 

and 

Long-billed  Dowitcher. 

Macrorhamphus  scolopaceus. 

See  page  41. 

Section  3.     Toes,  4,  without  webs ;  bill,  over  2  inches  long. 

Axillars,  rufous  brown,  without  bars;  belly,  buff  color.  Woodcock. 

Philohfla  minor. 
See  page  38. 

Axillars,  barred  black  and  white  ;  belly,  white ;  upper 
tail  coverts  and  tail,  tawny,  more  or  less  marked  with 
black. 

Wilson's  Snipe. 
Jack  Snipe. 
Gallinarjo  delicata. 
Gallinago  delicata,  See  Pa£e  39- 


18 


KEY    TO    THE    SHOKE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Section  4.    Toes,  4,  without  web;  bill,  over  1.10 and 
less  than  1.90. 

Bill,  decurved  near  tip;  one  or  more  of  inner  secon= 
=*/  daries,  almost  entirely  white  ;  upper  tail  coverts,  not 
white,  barred  with  black;  legs  and  feet,  black.  Spring 
birds  have  black  on  the  belly,  and  back,  rufous  brown 
and  black.  Fall  birds  have  the  belly  white  and  back 
gray. 

Red-backed  Sandpiper. 
American  Dunlin. 
Trintja  alpina  pacifica. 

See  page  49. 
Tringa  alpina  pacinYa. 


Tringa  ferruginea. 
Tail  and  upper  tail  coverts. 


Bill,   decurved  near    the    tip:    upper  tail   coverts, 
white,  banded  with  black  or  dark  brown. 

Curlew  Sandpiper. 

Trinrja  ferruyinea. 
See  page  50. 


Bill,  nearly  straight;  back,  marked  with  tawny  and 
black;  breast  with  numerous  narrow,  brown 
streaks  ;  none  of  inner  secondaries  almost  entirely 
ichite;  lower  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts, 
black ;  the  feathers  more  or  less  tipped  with 
buff.  Two  middle  tail  feathers  loHger  than 
the  others. 

Pectoral  Sandpiper 
Grass  Bird. 
Tringa  maculata. 
See  page  45. 


Tringa  maculata. 


Hill,  nearly  straight;  back,  dark;  feathers  edged  with  ashy  or  buff;  breast, 
grayish  without  brown  streaks;  one  or  more  of  inner  secondaries  almost 
entirely  white ;  legs  and  feet,  yellow  in  life,  pale  brown  in  dried  skin. 

Purple  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  maritima. 
See  page  44. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


19 


Tarsus,  over  1.75;  middle  toe, 
over  1.60;  primaries,  pale 
yellowish  green;  bend  of 
wing  with  sharp  spur. 

Mexican  Jacana. 
Jacana  spinosa 
See  page  85. 


Jacana  spinosa. 


Section  5.    Toes,  4,  without  web  ;  bill,  under  1.10. 


Upper  tail  coverts,  white ;   inner  webs  of 
primaries  not  speckled. 


Tringa  i'uscicollis. 


Tringa  bainlii. 
Tail  and  upper  tail  coverts. 


Tringa  fuscicollis. 

White  Rumped  Sandpiper. 

Trinfja  fuscicollis. 

See  page  46. 

Middle  upper  tail  coverts,  smoky  or  dusky, 

often  tipped  with  buff;  inner  webs  of  primaries 
not  speckled;  sides,  white;  middle  toe  and 
claw,  less  than  .95. 

Baird's  Sandpiper. 

Tringa  Bairdii. 
See  page  47. 


Tryngites  subruticollii- 
First  primary. 


fliddle  upper  tail  coverts,  black,  often  narrowly 
tipped  with  brownish  buff;  inner  webs  of  pri- 
maries, not  speckled ;  middle  toe  and  claw,  over 
.95 ;  middle  tail  feathers  decidedly  longer  than 
the  rest.  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

Grass  Bird. 
Tringa  inaculata. 
See  page  45. 


Inner  webs  of  primaries  speckled. 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 

Tryngites  subruficottis. 
See  page  65. 


20  KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF   NORTH    AMERICA. 

Section  6.    Toes,  3 ;  bill,  over  .60  in. 


Bill,  black;  shoulder  (lesser  and  middle  wing  coverts),  browu; 
no  web  between  toes ;  legs,  black. 

Sanderling  Sandpiper. 
Calidris  arenaria. 
See  page  53. 


Bill,  thick;   shoulder    (lesser  and  middle  wing  coverts),  ashy 
gray;  legs,  dull  flesh  color;  a  small  web  between  toes. 

Wilson's  Plover. 

Aegialitis   Wilsoniu. 


Acgiolititi  Wiis.miM. 


See  page  77. 


Section  7.    Toes,  3  ;  bill,  under  .60. 


Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black;  legs,  dull  flesh  color;  a 
black  stripe  from  bill  passing  under  eye. 

Semipal  mated  Plover. 
Ring  Neck. 

Aegialitis  semipalmata. 

See  page  75. 
Acgiulitta 

Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black;  legs,  orange  yellow;  no  black  stripe  from  bill 
to  eye;  black  breast  band,  not  confluent;  two  middle  tail  feathers,  tipped  with 
white.  Eastern  species  not  found  west  of  Rocky  Mountains. 

Piping  Plover. 

Aegialitis  meloda. 
See  page  75. 

Bill,  orange  at  base,  the  tip,  black;  legs,  orange  yellow;  no  black  stripe  from 
bill  to  eye;  breast  band,  continuous  and  not  broken  in  the  middle;  two 
middle  tail  feathers,  tipped  with  white.  Eastern  species  not  found  west 
of  Rocky  Mountains. 

Belted  Piping  Plover. 
Aegialitis  meloda  circnmcincta. 


Bill,  entirely  black;  legs,  slate  color;  no  black  stripe  from  bill  to 
eye;  two  middle  tail  feathers,  not  tipped  with  white;  two 
outer  tail  feathers,  white.  Western  species  ranges  from  Texas 
and  Kansas,  west,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Accidental  in  Florida. 

Snowy  Plover. 

Aegialitis  nivoxa. 

See  page  70. 


AcginlitiB  nivo-.-i 


KEY  TO  THE  SHORE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


21 


GROUP    IV. 
Birds  having  wings  from  5.50  to  6.75  inches  long. 

Section  1.     Toes,  4,  a  small  web  between  outer  and  middle 
toe;  bill,  over  1.80. 

Upper  tail  coverts  and  axillars,  white,  spotted  or  barred 
with  dusky ;  bill,  nearly  straight. 

Red=breasted  Snipe,  or  Dowitcher. 

Mwrorhamphus  yriseus, 

and 

Western  Red=breasted  Snipe,  or,  Long-billed  Dowitcher. 

Mcicrorhfi mphtts  scolopaceus, 
Muerorhainphus  jrrisous.  See  page  41. 

Section  2.     Toes,  4,  a  small  web  between  outer  and  middle 
toe;  bill,  under  1.80. 


Tarsus  and  middle  toe  together,  more  than  2.60  inches 
long ;  outer  primary,  slate  brown,  without  bars.  Rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts,  white,  more  or  less  barred 
with  brown;  legs,  yellow. 

Summer  Yellow=Ieg. 
Totanus  flavipes. 
See  page  58. 


Totaling  flavipes. 

Tarsus  and  middle  toe,  together,  less  than  2.60 ;  outer  primary,  slaty  brown ;  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts,  plumbeous  gray;  axillars,  slaty  gray,  without  bands. 
This  species  does  not  occur  in  Eastern  United  States. 

Wandering  Tattler. 
Heteractitis  incanns. 
See  page  61 . 

Tarsus  and  middle  toe,  together,  less  than  2.60 ;  upper  tail  coverts,  white  or  white 
barred  with  black;  outer  primary,  slate  brown,  without  bars. 

Stilt  Sandpiper. 
Micropalama  himantopits. 


Outer  primary,  whitish,  barred  with  dark  brown. 


See  page  42. 

Bartramian  Sandpiper. 
"  Upland  Plover." 

Bartramia  longicanda. 
See  page  64. 


22 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Section  3.     Toes,  4,  with  small  lobate  webs. 


Back,  streaked  tawny  and  black;    underparts,  more  or 
less  reddish  brown. 

Red  Phalarope. 
Crymophilus  fiilic,ariu*. 
See  page  32. 


Section  4.    Toes,  4,  without  webs ;  bill,  over  2  in. 


Lower  belly,  whitish  or  white;  axillars,  barred  black  and 
white. 

Wilson's  Snipe. 
Jack  Snipe. 


See  page  30. 


Belly,  Imfl'  color;  axillars,  rufous  brown. 


Woodcock. 

Pliilohfla  minor. 
See  page  3S. 


I'lfilnlirhi  minor. 

Section  5.     Toes,  4,  without  webs  ;  bill,  under  2. 


Rump,  gray  ;  upper  tail  coverts,  whitish,  handed  or  marked 
with  black ;  inner  webs  of  primaries  not  speckled. 

Knot. 

Tringa  canutus, 
See  page  43. 


Tniigii  cunutUB. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


\pliri/a  virgata. 


Rump,  brownish  or  grayish ;  upper  tail  coverts, 
white,  without  black  bands  or  spots ;  tail,  dark, 
tipped  with  white ;  axillars,  white.  A  Pacific 
species  not  found  in  Eastern  North  America. 

Surf  Bird. 
Aphriza  virgata. 
See  page  79. 


Throat,  white ;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  white  (not 
banded)  ;  inner  web  of  primaries  not  speckled. 

Turnstone. 
"Chicken  Plover.1 

Arenaria  interpres. 
See  page  80. 


Arenaria  interpret. 


Throat,  dusky;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  white ;  head  and  neck,  black ; 
a  white  spot  on  lores  and  white  streaks  on  forehead.  A  Pacific  species  not 
found  in  Eastern  North  America. 

Black  Turnstone. 

Arenaria  melanocephala. 
See  page  81. 


Rump,  blackish  ;  middle  upper  tail  coverts,  black 

(not  banded)  ;  inner  web  of  primaries  not  speckled. 

Pectoral  Sandpiper. 
Grass  Bird. 

Tringa  maculata. 
See  page  45. 


§^j^ 

Tringa  maculata. 


Trygnites  subruflcollis. 


Inner  webs  of  primaries,  speckled. 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper. 

Tryngites  subruficollis. 
See  page  65. 


Section  6.    Toes,  3. 

Breast,  with  two  black  bands ;  under  parts,  white ;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts, 
orange  brown. 

Killdeer  Plover. 

JEgialitis  vocifera. 
See  page  74. 


24 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


GROUP   V. 

Birds  having  wings  from  6.75  to  9  inches  long. 

Section   1.    Toes,  4,  with   more  or   less   web;   bill,   curved 
upwards  or  straight;  bill,  over  2.60. 


A \illars,  white;  belly, 
white;  first  primary, 
dark  with  dark  shaft; 

top  of  he:id  and  nape, 
not  black;  bill,  curved 
upward. 

American  avocet. 

liecurvirostra  americana. 
See  page  35. 


Axillars,  white  ;  belly,  white;  first 
primary,  dark,  with   dark  shaft; 

legs,  very  long,  rose  pink  in  life ; 
bill,  nearly  straight;  top  of  head 
and  nape,  black. 

Black-necked  Stilt. 

Himantopus  mexicanus. 
See  page  37. 


Recurvirostra  americana. 


lliinnntopuB  mexicanus. 


Syni]ihciiiia  wemipalmata. 


Axillars,  smoky  black;  belly,  white;  terminal  third 
of  outer  primary,  black;  the  rest,  white;  bill,  neai'ly 
straight. 

Willet  (Symphrmia  semipalmat<i)  and  Western  Willet 

(Symjihemfa  semipalmata  inornata). 

See  page  60. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  25 

Axillars,  dark  gray,  or  sooty  gray;  belly,  gniyish  white;  first  primary,  dark 
slaty  brown  with  white  shaft;  bill,  curved  upward;  upper  tail  coverts 
mostly  white. 

Hudsonian  Godwit. 

Limosa  hcvmaslica. 


Axillars,  rufous  brown  ;  upper  tail  cov- 
erts, not  white ;  belly,  buff;  sometimes 
barred  with  dark  brown;  primaries, 
pale  rufous  brown  with  numerous 
dark  dots  ;  shaft  of  primaries,  white  ; 
bill,  curved  upward. 

Harbled  Godwit. 
Limosa  fedoa. 
See  page  54. 


Limosa  fedoa. 

Section   2.     Toes,  4,  without   webs  ;    bill,  nearly  straight ; 

bill,  over  2.60. 

Axillars,  banded  with  white  and  grayish  brown;  belly,  pale  brown,  banded 
with  dark  brown;  primaries,  grayish  brown;  outer  webs,  banded  with  pale 
brown  or  rufous  brown ;  shaft  of  primaries,  dark ;  bill,  nearly  straight. 

European  Woodcock. 

Scolopax  rusticola. 
See  page  39. 

Section  3.     Toes,  4  (with  small  web) ;  bill,  slightly  curved 
upward  or  straight;  bill,  under  2.60  and  over  1.50. 


Axillars,  smoky  black ;   belly,  white ;  outer  primary 

terminal  third,  black,  rest,  white ;  rump,  gray ;  upper 
tail  coverts,  white. 

\Villet. 

Symphemia  sem ipalmata , 
See  page  60, 


26  KEY  TO  THE  SHORE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

Axillars,  white,  with  few  light  brown  dots  near  the  ends;  belly,  white;  outer 
primary  dark,  with  shaft  white;  rump,  white  without  bars;  upper  tail 
coverts,  white  without  bars ;  legs,  olive  green. 

Qreenshank. 

Totanus  neltularius. 
See  page  58. 

Axillars,  dark  gray;  outer  primary,  brownish  slate  color;  shaft,  whitish;  rump 
and  upper  tail  coverts,  plumbeous  gray.  Pacific  species,  does  not  occur  in 
Eastern  North  America. 

Wandering  Tatler. 

Ilt'teractitin  incan us. 
See  page  61. 

Axillars,  white,  banded  with  brown;  belly,  white;  outer  primary,  black; 
shaft,  white;  rump,  grayish  brown;  feathers,  tipped  with  white; 
upper  tail  coverts,  white,  more  or  less  barred  with  dark  brown ;  legs, 
bright  yellow. 

Winter  Yellowlegs. 

Greater  Yellowlegs. 

Tot(i>nis  melanuleucus. 

See  page  57. 

Axillars,  pure  white;  belly,  white;  first  primary,  black  with  black  shaft; 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  black  or  brownish  black  ;  legs,  pinkish  red  in 
life. 

Black-necked  Stilt. 

Himantojnts  mcxicnnus. 
See  page  37. 

Section  4.     Toes,  4,  with  small  web;  bill,  nearly  straight; 
bill,  under  1.50. 

Axillars,  white,  banded  with  brown ;  first  primary,  white,  barred  with  dark 
brown ;  tip,  dark. 

Bartramian  Sandpiper. 
Upland  Plover. 

Bartra  in  in  lonf/icauda. 

See  page  (54. 

Axillars,  dark  gray;  without  bars;  first  primary,  dark  (without  bars) ;  tail,  not 
barred ;  back,  plumbeous  gray.  Pacific  species  which  does  not  occur  in  Eastern 
North  America. 

Wandering  Tatler. 

Heterartitis  incanm. 

See  page  fil . 

Axillars,  smoky  black;  first  primary,  dark  (without  bars);  hind  toe,  very 
small ;  tail,  barred  dark  brown  and  white ;  back,  mottled. 

Black-bellied  Plover. 

Squatarola  sijuatarula. 
See  page  72. 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


27 


Section  5.     Toes,  4,  with  small   web  ;   bill,   curved   down= 
ward;  bill,  over  2  inches  long. 


Primaries,    barred  ; 
axillars,  barred. 

Hudsonian  Curlew. 
Jack  Curlew. 

N'umenius  hudsonicus. 


Axillars. 

Nmiieimis  luulsuiiicus. 


Numenius  boreallB. 

Primaries,  without  bars ; 
axillars,  barred. 

Esquimaux  Curlew. 
Dough  Bird. 

Jfumenius  boreal  is. 


Section  6.     Toes,  4  (cleft  to  base),  without  webs. 


Aphriza  virgata. 


Upper  tail  coverts,  white.  Inhabits  Pacific  Coast 
of  North  America ;  not  recorded  from  Eastern 
United  States. 

Surf  Bird. 

Aphriza  virgata. 
See  page  79. 


Section  7.     Toes,  3. 

Rump,  orange  brown ;  under  parts,  white  with  two  black  bands  on  the  breast ; 
axillars,  pure  white. 

Killdeer  Plover. 

jEgittlitis  vocifera. 

See  page  74. 


28 


KEY    TO    THE    SHORE    HIKDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Axillars,  gray ;  rump,  not  orange  brown. 


Golden  Plover. 

Charadrhts  dnminicus. 
See  page  73. 


CharadriuB  dorainl 


Axillars,  smoky  black;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  not  orange  brown. 

This  species  has  four  toes  (the  hind  toe  being  so  small  that  it  often  escapes  notice), 
and  properly  belongs  in  Group  5,  Section  3,  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  is  con- 
stantly looked  for  among  the  three-toed  species  it  in  included  in  both  sections. 


Black-bellied  Plover. 
ChdTddrius  squatnrola. 
See  page  72. 


GROUP  VI. 


Birds  having  wings  measuring  from  9  to  12  inches  long. 


Section   1.     Toes,  4;  bill,  curved  downward. 


Hudaonian  Curlew. 


Axilla 


Axillars,  reddish 
brown  with  nar- 
row black  marks ; 
Ixlly,  huff:  bill 
usually  over  four 
inches. 

Long=billed  Curlew. 
Sickle-bill  Curlew. 
Numenius  Jonyirontris. 

See  page  G7. 
Axillars,  banded 
with  slaty  brown 
and  dull  white; 
belly,  whitish; bill, 
under  four  inches. 

Jack  Curlew. 
Hudsonian  Curlew. 
See  page  68. 


KEY  TO  THE  SHORE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


29 


Section  2.     Toes,  4;  bill,  curved  upward,  or  nearly  straight, 


Axillars  rufous  ;  primaries,  rufous, 
dotted  with  black. 

Marbled  Qodwit. 

Limosa  fedoa. 
See  page  54. 


IIii>iniit(i]uis  palliiitus. 


Section  3.     Toes,  3;  bill   nearly  straight. 

Upper  tail  coverts,  white;  hill,. rod. 

American  Oyster-catcher. 

II<nnaiO)>u8  paUiatnx. 

See  page  82. 

Upper  tail  coverts,  mixed  brown  and  white; 
bill,  red.  Pacific  coast  species  does  not 
occur  in  Eastern  North  America. 

Frazar's  Oyster=catcher. 
Hii'iiifttopiix  frazari. 

See  page  83. 

General  plumage  and  upper  tail  coverts,  dark  brownish  black;  bill,  red.     Pacific 
coast  species  does  not  occur  in  Eastern  North  America. 

Black  Oyster-catcher. 
Ifa'tnatopus  bachmani. 
See  page  83. 


ORDER    LIMICOL^E. 

SHORE    BIRDS. 


FAMILY  PHALAROPODID^.     PHALAROPES. 


Wilson's  Phalarope. 


Red  Phalarope. 


The  PhalaropodidaB  or  Phalaropes  number  but  three  species,  all  of  which  occur  in 
North  America.  Although  somewhat  snipe-like  in  form,  their  webbed  feet  enable 
them  to  swim  easily  and  gracefully,  and  they  are  often  observed  in  flocks  far  out  at 
sea.  The  female  is  larger  and  more  highly  colored  than  the  male. 


32 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


GENUS  CRYMOPHILUS  VIEILL. 


(Jrvmophilus 
fiilh-arius. 


Cryinoi>hiluri  t'ulirurius. 


CRYHOPHILUS  FULICARIUS  (/,/////.). 
Red  Phalarope.    Gray  Phalarope. 

SEA-GOOSE.    WIIALE-HIKU.     BOWIIEAD. 

Adult  male  in  summer:  General  un- 
der parts  and  sides  of  the  neck,  pur- 
plish brown  ;  upper  tail  coverts,  purplish 
brown,  slightly  darker  than  the  under 
parts;  crown  of  the  head  and  base  of 
the  bill,  smoky  black ;  sides  of  the  head, 
white,  extending  to  the  nape;  rump, 
white ;  back,  black ;  feathers,  edged  with 
tawny  brown ;  primaries,  dusky,  the 
shafts  being  white,  and  the  base  of  the 
IVatlu-rs  white;  some  of  the  secondaries,  white ;  bill,  yel- 
lowish brown,  dark  on  the  tip ;  feet,  dull  yellow. 

Adult  in  winter:   Head  and  under  parts,  white;  a  small  patch  around  the  eye  and  a  nuchal 
crest,  dusky;  the  under  parts  of  the  body  are  tinged  with  ashy  gray  on  the  sides;  upper  parts, 
grayish  ash  color;  wings,  showing  a  distinct  white  bar;  bill,  dusky;  feet,  brownish. 
Length,  7.70;  wing,  5.10;  tail,  2.50;  bill,  .94;  tarsus,  .80. 

The  Red  Phalarope  is  a  maritime  species  which  ranges  from  the  far  north, 
where  it  breeds,  southward  to  the  Middle  States.  On  the  Pacific  coast  it  has 
been  recorded  as  far  south  as  Cape  St.  Lucas.  During  migrations  it  is  not 
uncommon  on  some  of  our  large  interior  lakes.  It  is  gregarious  in  its  habits, 
usually  being  observed  in  flocks  far  out  at  sea.  It  breeds  in  the  far  north. 
The  eggs,  which,  are  four  in  number,  are  grayish  or  brownish,  spotted  with 
dark  brown ;  they  vary  much  in  color,  some  eggs  being  described  as  greenish, 
heavily  spotted  with  dull  brown.  The  species  is  known  to  sailors  by  the  name 
of  "  Whale  Bird."  Contrary  to  the  usual  rule  among  birds,  the  female  is  the 
handsomer  and  is  also  the  lararer. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  33 


PHALAROPUS  LOBATUS  (Linn.). 
Northern  Phalarope. 

Adult  female  in  summer :  Upper  plumage, 
dark  plumbeous;  the  back,  streaked  with  butt'; 
sides  and  front  of  the  neck,  rufous  brown; 
greater  wing  coverts,  tipped  with  white ;  bell}-., 
white. 

Adult  male  in  summer :  Similar  to  the  female 
but  paler ;  little,  if  any,  rufous  on  the  front  of 
the  neck. 

Winter  plumaye :  Upper  plumage,  grayish ;  forehead,  sides 
of  the  neck,  cheeks,  and  underparts,  white;  top  of  the  head, 

dull  gray;  the  feathers  edged  with  dull  white;  a  dusky  spot  on  side  of  head  and  in  front  of 
the  eye ;  breast,  tinged  with  gray. 

Length,  7.50;  wing,  4.25;  tarsus,  .80;  tail,  2;  bill,  .80  to  .90. 

The  Northern  Phalarope  is  another  of  our  maritime  species,  at  times  not 
uncommon  along  our  coast.  It  occurs  on  the  Pacific  coast  as  well  as  on  the 
Atlantic  side,  and  is  common  and  breeds  among  the  islands  of  Behring  Sea. 
It  is  rather  a  more  southern  species  than  the  preceding,  and  wanders  in 
winter  as  far  south  as  the  Middle  States,  and  to  Mexico  on  the  Pacific  side. 
It  occurs  in  the  interior,  being  not  uncommon  on  some  of  our  large  inland 
lakes.  It  swims  easily  arid  gracefully  and  is  very  much  at  home  in  the  water 
on  account  of  its  webbed  feet.  The  male  of  this  species,  as  in  the  other  Pha- 
laropes,  is  smaller  than  the  female  and  not  so  highly  colored ;  he  also  takes 
upon  himself  many  domestic  duties  usually  assumed  by  the  female ;  he  sets  on 
the  nest,  contrary  to  the  usual  custom,  and  devotes  himself  to  the  young  chicks. 
The  eggs  are  usually  three  or  four,  and  are  gray  or  grayish,  blotched  with 
chocolate  brown.  The  nest,  which  is  built  on  the  ground,  is  usually  composed 
of  a  little  grass  or  moss. 


SHORE    BIKDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


PHALAROPUS  TRICOLOR   (Vieill.}. 


Wilson's  Phalarope. 


Adult  female  in  summer:  Grown 
and  middle  of  back,  pearl  gray ;  nape, 
white;  superciliary  stripe,  white;  a 
dusky  or  black  streak  from  the  eye 
to  the  sides  of  the  neck;  sides  of 
upper  back,  chestnut,  bordering  the 
gray;  middle  throat  and  breast 
tinged  with  pale  rufous  brown ;  chin, 
white;  belly,  white. 

Adult  male  in  summer :  General  re- 
semblance to  the  female,  but  smaller 
and  much  paler  in  coloration;  the  crown  and  back,  more  brownish. 

Adult  in  winter:  Upper  plumage,  the  feathers  more  or  less  edged  with  white;  wings,  fus- 
cous, or  gray  brown ;  coverts,  edged  narrowly  with  white ;  under  parts,  white. 

Female:  Length,  9.10  to  10.05;  wing,  5.20  to  5.40;  tarsus,  1.25  to  1.40;  bill,  1.25  to  1.40. 
Male:  Length,  8.40  to  9.10;  wing,  4  60  to  4.90;  tarsus,  1.20  to  1.30;  bill,  1.20  to  1.30. 


^fe*_ 


if 


Wilson's  Palarope  is  a  more  inland  species  than  the  preceding,  and  is  by  no 
means  common  on  our  coasts.  It  is  abundant  in  some  portions  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  and  breeds  in  the  United  States  from  Illinois  and  Utah  north- 
ward. The  nest  is  simply  a  depression  in  the  ground  lined  with  a  little 
grass,  and  the  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number,  of  dull  brownish  white,  marked 
and  spotted  with  dark  chocolate  brown.  In  winter  the  bird  occurs  in  South 
America,  and  is  claimed  to  wander  as  far  south  as  Patagonia.  In  this,  as  with 
the  other  Phalaropes,  the  male  assumes  the  duties  of  incubation. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  35 

FAMILY  RECURVIROSTRID^.     AVOCETS  AND  STILTS. 
GENUS  RECURVIROSTRA  LINN. 

This  family  consists  of  two  or  three  genera,  comprising  ten  or  eleven 
species.  While  they  usually  obtain  their  food  wading  about  in  shallow  water, 
they  are  web-footed  and  swiui  easily  and  gracefully. 


RECURVIROSTRA  AflERICANA   Gmel. 
American  Avocet. 

Adult  in  summer :  Bill,  very  slender  and  curved  upwards ;  ieet,  partly  webbed ;  general 
plumage,  white,  becoming  cinnamon  brown  on  the  head  and  neck,  but  remaining  whitish  at 
the  base  of  the  bill ;  primaries,  black ;  most  of  the  secondaries,  white,  forming  a  broad  white 
patch  on  the  wing ;  tail,  ashy  gray ;  legs,  bluish ;  bill,  black. 

Adult  in  winter:  Head  and  most  of  the  neck,  ashy  gray;  tail,  ashy  gray;  rest  as  in 
summer  plumage. 

Length,  18  to  20;  wing,  7.50  to  9;  tail,  3.50;  bill,  3.25  to  3.75;  tarsus,  3.60. 

This  is  a  western  species  which  ranges  from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  south- 
ward to  Central  America  and  the  West  Indies.  It  occurs  commonly  in  Texas 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF   NORTH    AMERICA. 


and  along  the  Gulf  Coast  in  winter,  but  is  not  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
north  of  Florida,  although  stragglers  have  been  recorded  from  different  points 


extending  as  far  north  as  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  It  breeds  from  Texas  and  Illinois 
northward  to  the  British  Provinces.  The  eggs  are  from  three  to  four  in  num- 
ber, pale  grayish  olive  spotted  with  very  dark  brown. 

GENUS  HIMANTOPUS    BRISS. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  37 

HinANTOPUS   MEXICANUS    (Mull.). 
Black- necked  Stilt. 

Adult :  Top  and  sides  of  the  head  and  back  of  the  neck  aiid  back,  black ;  uuder  eyelid  and  a 
spot  above  and  behind  the  eye,  forehead,  and  sides  of  the  head  uuder  the  eye,  white;  rest  of 
under  parts,  with  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts,  white;  tail,  ash  gray  or  pearl  gray;  bill, 
black ;  legs,  red  in  life. 

The  immature  bird  has  the  upper  parts  brownish ;  feathers,  edged  with  whitish ;  wings, 
blackish,  some  of  the  feathers  tipped  with  white ;  wing  coverts,  edged  with  buff  or  tawny 
brown;  under  parts,  white  mottled  with  black  and  tawny  bi-owu. 

Length,  15.50;  wing,  9;  tail,  3;  tarsus,  4.25;  bill,  2.70. 


JJCUIL'S      13      V.UI1JIIIUU       LllLULU^I 

^ 


This   species  is  common  throughout  tropical  America,  occasionally  being 

found  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  as  far 
north  as  Minnesota.  It  is  accidental  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  north  of  Florida  and 

Jp-  "M      Southern  Georgia,  although  it  has  been 

^^^  «     recorded  as  far  north  as  Long  Island  and 

^^T  Maine.     It  is  common  in  Florida  after 

^^^  April   1,  and   breeds   from  Florida  and 

^^^  the  Gulf  States  northward  up  the  Missis- 

W     sippi  Valley  to  Minnesota,  and  west  to 
Utah  and  Oregon.     The  eggs  are  laid  on 

HiiiiantoiHis  Mexican^.  the  ground,  sometimes  on  a  little  grass, 

and  again  without  any  nest  whatever.     They  are  three  or  four  in  number  and 
pale  brown  or  dull  white,  spotted  and  marked  with  chocolate  brown. 


3959O9 


38  SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

FAMILY  SCOLOPACID^.     SNIPES,  SANDPIPERS,  ETC. 

A  very  large  family,  numbering  some  100  species,  about  45  of  which  occur 
in  North  America. 

GENUS  PHILOMELA   GRAY. 


PHILOMELA    MINOR   (Gme/.). 
American  Woodcock. 

Adult:  Bill,  long,  corrugated  near  the  end;  upper  parts  variegated  with  tawny  rufous, 
brown  and  black;  head,  rufous  brown,  banded  011  the  occiput  with  alternate  bauds  of  black 
and  tawny  brown;  a  line  of  black  from  the  eye  to  the  bill;  a  narrow  patch. on  the  sides  of  the 
lower  head,  blackish ;  throat,  pale  rufous  or  rufous  white ;  under  parts  of  the  body,  pale 
rufous ;  quills,  brownish ;  tail  feathers,  dusky,  tipped  with  ash ;  bill,  pale  brown,  yellowish  at 
the  base;  legs,  reddish;  bill,  light  brown,  paler  and  .yellowish  at  base. 

Length,  11  50;  wing,  5.45;  tarsus,  1.30;  bill,  2.90  to  3.05. 

Common  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  from  the  British  Provinces  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  west  to  Kansas  and  Dakota,  breeding  throughout  its  range,  but  more 


SHORK    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  30 

commonly  north  of  the  Carolinas.  It  is  occasionally  observed  in  Florida  in 
winter,  and  is  very  abundant  in  the  swamps  of  Alabama  and  Louisiana  at  some 
seasons.  The  eggs  are  usually  four,  mottled  and  spotted  with  brown. 

The  European  Woodcock  (Scolopax  rusticola]  is  larger  than  our  bird,  and 
may  be  easily  distinguished  from  it  by  the  heavily  barred  under  parts,  and 
having  the  wings  also  barred  with  rufous  brown.  The  outer  primary  is  not 
emarginate,  as  in  the  American  species.  There  are  numerous  records  of  the 
occurrence  of  this  bird  in  eastern  North  America. 

GENUS   GALLINAGO    LEACH. 

GALLINAGO    DELICATA  (Oni). 

Wilson's  Snipe. 

ENGLISH  SNIPE.     JACK  SNIPE.     GUTTER  SNIPE. 

Adult:  Bill,  loug  and  straight,  being  slightly  enlarged  near  the 
tip  and  showing  numerous  small  pits;  no  web  between  outer  and 
middle  toes ;  general  upper  parts,  dark  brown,  tawny  brown,  pale 
yellow,  dull  white ;  top  of  the  head,  black  with  middle  stripe  of  tawny 
brown;  outer  web  of  first  primary,  white;  greater  wing  coverts, 
brownish  or  dusky  with  white  tips ;  axillars  and  under  surface  of 
wings,  barred  with  black ;  upper  tail  coverts,  tawny  brown  barred 
with  black;  tail  feathers,  chestnut  brown  with  subterminal  black 
bar;  tips,  white,  and  feathers  marked  witli  black  at  the  base;  under  Gallinago  delicate, 
parts,  white ;  breast  and  throat,  speckled  and  lined  with  brown ;  sides  of  the  body,  brownish 
barred  with  dull  black. 

Length,  11;  wing,  5;  tail,  2.20;  tarsus,  1.25;  bill,  2.40  to  2.60. 

The  English  Snipe,  or  Wilson's  Snipe,  is  one  of  our  best  known  game  birds 
and  is  very  abundant  in  suitable  localities  during  the  migrations.  It  ranges 
from  Canada  and  British  Columbia,  south,  in  winter  to  the  West  Indies,  and 
even  to  South  America.  It  breeds  from  the  latitude  of  New  England  north- 
ward. The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  and  the  eggs  are  three  or  four, 
u-ually  of  a  grayish  ash  color  blotched  with  chocolate  brown,  heaviest  at  the 
largest  end.  They  measure  1.50  x  1.15.  In  some  localities  in  the  Southern 
States,  during  the  winter  months,  thousands  of  these  birds  are  killed  on  the 
marshes  where  they  collect  on  some  especially  good  feeding  ground.  When 
first  disturbed  they  utter  a  peculiar  cheep  as  they  rise  from  the  ground,  often 
repeated  during  their  night,  which  is  very  irregular,  making  them  one  of  the 
most  difficult  birds  to  shoot. 


40 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


The  European  Snipe  (Gallinago  gallinago)  has  not  as  yet  been  taken  in 
the  United  States  ;  but  it  has  been  recorded  from  Greenland  and  the   Bermuda 


KngliHli  Snipe,  or  Wllnon'8  Snipe. 

Islands.  It  somewhat  resembles  our  bird,  but  the  tail  feathers  usually  number 
fourteen,  although  this  character  is  not  constant.  It  has  no  standing  as  a 
North  American  species,  except  from  its  occurrence  in  Greenland. 


SHOKE    HIKD8    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  41 

GENUS    MACRORHAMPHUS    LEACH. 

MACRORHAflPHUS    QRISEUS    (GmeL). 
Dowitcher.     Red=breasted  Snipe.     Brown  Back. 

Adult  i»  xttinmer :  A  small  web  between  the  outer  and  middle  toes;  upper  parts,  blackish; 

feathers  edged  with 
tawny  browu;  top 
of  head,  blackish, 
'mottled  with  tawny 
brown ;  under  parts, 
red  brown,  banded 
on  the  sides ;  throat 
and  breast  only 

slightly  spotted,  entirely  without   spots  in 
some  plumages ;  tail  and  upper  tail  cov= 
Macrorhaniphus  Krl«eu8.  erts>  barred  with  black  .  bill)  dark  olive. 

Adult  in  winter:  Upper  parts,  grayish,  the  feathers  showing  faint  edges  of  buffon  the  back; 
chin  and  superciliary  stripe  dull  grayish  white ;  breast,  gray,  showing  slight  traces  of  tawny 
(often  entirely  absent) ;  rest  of  under  parts,  dirty  white,  mottled  on  the  crissum ;  tail,  banded 
dark  browu  or  black  and  white. 

Length,  10.30;  wing,  5.70;  tarsus,  1.30;  bill,  2.20  to  2.50. 

The  Bed-breasted  Snipe,  or  Dowitcher,  ranges  from  the  Arctic  Circle,  where 
it  breeds,  to  South  America,  being  common  in  the  United  States  during  the 
migrations.  It  is  a  well-known  bird  to  sportsmen,  and  its  long,  snipe-like  bill 
will  always  distinguish  it  from  other  species  of  shore  birds,  except  the  Wilson's 
Snipe,  from  which  it  may  be  known  at  a  glance  by  the  small  web  between  the 
outer  and  middle  toes,  and  by  its  differently  marked  tail  and  tail  coverts. 
It  occurs  in  flocks,  and  where  it  has  not  been  persecuted  by  gunners,  is  very 
tame  and  unsuspicious,  and  comes  readily  to  decoys.  The  eggs  are  dull  butt' 
or  pale  olive  speckled  with  dark  brown. 

MACRORHAMPHUS    SCOLOPACEUS   Say. 
Long-billed  Dowitcher.     Western  Red=breasted  Snipe. 

Resembles  the  preceding  species,  but  the  bill  is  longer,  and  in  breeding  plumage,  the  sides 
of  the  body  are  more  distinctly  barred  with  black ;  the  throat  and  breast  more  rufous,  and  the 
general  plumage  more  highly  colored. 

In  winter  the  principal  difference  is  one  of  size. 

Length,  11 ;  wing,  6.05 ;  tarsus,  1.55;  bill,  2.20  to  2.60. 

This  species,  which  is  closely  allied  to  the  eastern  bird,  in  breeding  plum- 
age, may  be  distinguished  from  it  by  its  longer  bill,  barred  sides,  and  richer 


42  SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

coloration,  in  winter  they  differ  but  little  except  in  length  of  bill.  It  ranges 
from  Alaska  to  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  south  to  Mexico,  occasionally 
wandering  to  the  Atlantic  coast,  occurring  somewhat  regularly  in  winter  in 
some  of  our  southeastern  States.  The  eggs  are  not  distinguishable  from  those 
of  the  preceding  species. 


GENUS  MICROPALAMA  BAIRD. 

MICROPALAMA    HIMANTOPUS    (Bonaj>.). 
Stilt  Sandpiper. 


Mirropnlanut  hiiuantopu 


Adult  in  summer :  Legs,  dull  olive  green ;  entire 
plumage,  dull  white  and  dark  brown,  being  banded  on 
the  under  parts  with  dark  brown,  and  the  upper  parts 
streaked  with  dark  brown ;  a  stripe  of  chestnut  browu 
above  and  below  the  eye,  the  former  extending  back- 
wards and  joining  at  the  occiput ;  secondaries  edged  with 
tawny  brown. 

Adult  in  winter:  Upper  plumage,  gray;  feathers,  on 
the  back,  edged  with  white ;  breast,  pale  butt',  slightly 
mottled,  shading  into  dull  white  on  the  upper  throat: 


belly,  dull  white;  bill,  black. 

Length,  8.20;  wing,  5;  tarsus,  1.65  ;   bill,  1.60. 

This  species  ranges  from  the  Arctic  Circle  to  South  America,  being  not 
uncommon  on  the  Atlantic  coast  at  times  during  the  migrations  ;  abundant  in 
Florida,  in  March,  on  the  marshes  along  the  east  coast.  It  has  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  very  diminutive  summer  yellow-legs,  but  its  legs  are  olive 
green  instead  of  yellow. 

It  breeds  in  the  far  north  ;  the  eggs  are  usually  4,  pale,  butty  white  or 
grayish  white,  spotted  with  brown,  and  measure  1.42  x  1. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


43 


GENUS   TRINGA    LINN. 

SUBGENUS  TRINGA. 
TRINGA    CANUTUS    (Linn.). 

Knot.     Robin  Snipe. 
REDBREAST  SANDPIPER.     BLUE  PLOVER.     GRAYBACK. 


Upper  t:iil  cove.ts. 


Tringa  Canutus. 


Summer  plumage :  Top  of  the  head,  buffy  white,  mixed  with  blackish.  Upper  plumage, 
variegated,  with  black,  white,  and  buff.  TTpper  tail  coverts,  barred  with  black  aiid  white, 
often  marked  with  buff;  entire  under  parts,  except  the  lower  abdomen,  rufous  brown ;  lower 
abdomen,  white;  axillars,  white,  with  long,  arrow-shaped  markings  of  dark  gray. 

Winter  plumage :  Entire  upper  plumage,  ashy  gray,  the  feathers  having  pale,  brownish 
shafts,  showing  indistinct  fine  lines;  upper  tail  coverts,  white,  banded  with  brown;  under 
parts,  white ;  the  breast  and  sides  with  indistinct,  irregular  dots  and  bands  of  brownish  gray ; 
belly,  and  under  tail  coverts,  pure  white;  axillars,  white,  with  irregular,  arrow-shaped, 
brownish  gray  marking. 

Length,  10.60;  wing,  6.70;  tarsus,  1.25;  bill,  1.30. 

The  Knot  is  a  cosmopolitan  species  which  breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions, 
and  is  common  in  the  United  States  during  migrations.  It  winters  from 
Florida  to  South  America,  a  few  remaining  in  Florida  all  winter.  The  eggs 
are  known  only  from  a  single  specimen  taken  near  Fort  Conger,  by  General 
Greeley,  and  described  as  "light  pea  green,  closely  spotted  with  brown,  in 
small  specks  about  the  size  of  a  pinhead."  (See  Merriam,  Auk,  11,  1885, 
p.  313.) 


44 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF   NORTH    AMERICA. 


SUBGENUS  ARQUATELLA    BAIRD. 
TRINQA    MARITIMA    Brunn.. 
Purple  Sandpiper. 


Trillin  inaritinia. 


Summer  plumage :  Top  of  head,  dark 
gray ;  back,  blackish,  the  feathers  edged 
with  grayish  white :  rump  and  upper 
tail  coverts, black  or  brownish  black;  a 
small  black  spot  in  front  of  the  i-y<- : 
breast,  grayish,  having  the  appearance 
of  being  spotted  with  black,  which  black 
spotting  also  appears  on  the  sides  <>l  tin- 
body.  This  is  caused  by  the  feathers 
of  the  breast  being  dark  at  the  base 
tipped  with  white,  and  on  the  sides  of 
the  body  the  feathers  are  white  with 
black  spots  near  the  tips;  axillars, 
white. 

Winter  plumaije :  Similar,  but  lack- 
ing the  black  spots  on  the  breast  and 
sides,  which  is  replaced  by  pale  gray ; 
bill,  yellowish  at  base. 

Length,  9.25;  wing,  5;  tarsus.  .<••_>: 
bill,  1.30. 


The  Purple  Sandpiper  is  a  northern  species,  breeding  in  high  latitudes, 
but  occurring  in  winter  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Middle  States,  and  occa- 
sionally to  Florida.  Some  birds  remain  on  the  New  England  coast  all  winter, 
frequenting  rocky  ledges.  It  breeds  from  Northern  Hudson's  Bay  to  Green- 
land. The  eggs,  usually  four,  are  buft',  sometimes  tinged  with  olive  and 
mottled  with  brown,  and  measure  1.40x1.05.  It  does  not  occur  on  the 
Pacific  coast. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


45 


SUBGENUS  ACTODROMAS  KAUP. 

TRINGA    HACULATA      Vieill. 

Pectoral   Sandpiper. 

GRASS  BIRD. 


Tringa   inarulata. 


Tringa  maculata. 

Adult  in  slimmer :  Head  and  upper  parts,  dark  browii,  the  feathers  edged  with  tawny ; 
throat  and  belly,  white ;  breast,  pale  brown,  the  feathers  narrowly  streaked  with  dark  brown 
or  blackish ;  upper  tail  coverts,  black ;  two  middle  tail  feathers  longer  than  the  others ;  basal 
half  of  bill,  dull  greenish  yellow. 

Winter  plumage :  Breast,  brownish  buff,  and  upper  parts,  more  brownish. 

Length,  9;  wing,  5.25;  tarsus,  1.05;  bill,  1.15. 

This  species  ranges  from  the  Arctic  regions  to  South  America,  being  com- 
mon on  the  Atlantic  coast  daring  migrations.  It  breeds  in  the  far  north.  The 
eggs  are  four,  greenish  buff,  mottled  with  brown,  heaviest  at  the  larger  end, 
and  measure  1.50x  1.01)  (Murdock).  The  Pectoral  Sandpiper  may  always  be 
distinguished  from  the  next  species  by  its  blackish  middle  upper  tail  coverts. 


46 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Triii}?!i  fusc.icolliH. 


TRINQA   FUSCICOLLIS      Vieill. 


White-rumped  Sandpiper. 


Adult  in  summer:  Top  of  the  head  and  back,  mottled 
with  black,  dull  white,  and  buff;  throat,  white ;  breast, 
finely  lined  with  dark  brown;  belly,  white;  an  imperfect 
superciliary  line  of  dull  white;  rump,  dusky  gi*«iy»  iind 
most  of  upper  tail  coverts,  white. 

Adult  in  winter :  Top  of 
the  head  and  back,  gray- 
ish, some  of  the  feathers 
marked  with  dark  brown, 
giving  it  a  slightly  mottled 
appearance  on  the  back  and 
top  of  the  head;  upper 
throat,  white ;  breast,  ashy 
gray,  the  shafts  of  the 
feathers  showing  brown ; 


belly,  white;  forehead,  whitish,  extending  in  an  imperfect  superciliary  line. 
Length,  6.85;  wing.  4.95;  tarsus,  .1)5;  bill,  .05. 

This  species  may  readily  be  distinguished  by  its  white  upper  tail  coverts. 
It  ranges  from  the  Arctic  regions  south  to  Central  and  South  America  and  the 
West  Indies,  being  one  of  our  common  beach  birds  'during  the  migrations. 
It  breeds  in  high  latitudes.  The  eggs,  which  are  usually  four,  are  buff  or 
olive,  spotted  and  dotted  with  dark  brown,  and  measure  about  1.27  x  .94 
(Ridgway). 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


47 


TRINQA    BAIRDII   (Coues). 
Baird's   Sandpiper. 

Summer  plumage :  Crown,  dark  brown,  mixed  with  buft'; 
nape  and  upper  back,  narrowly  streaked  with  buff  and  dark 
brown;  the  feathers  of  the  back,  dark  brown,  narrowly 
edged  with  white ;  upper  tail  coverts,  blackish ;  the 
feathers  usually  narrowly  tipped  with  buff  ;  two  central 
tail  feathers,  very  slightly  longer  than  the  others, —  not 
decidedly  longer,  as  in  Tringa  maculata;  chin,  white; 
breast,  brownish  buff,  showing  very  faint  and  narrow 
streaks  of  brown;  under  parts,  butty  white,  with  a  faint 
tinge  of  butt',  sometimes  entirely  white. 


bainlii. 


Winter  plumage :   Similar,  but  paler. 

Immature:   Resembles  the  adult,  but  has  the  feathers  of 
the  back  and  wing  coverts  tipped  with  white. 

Length,  7.40;  wing,  4.50  to  4.90;  tarsus,  1;  bill,  1. 

Baird's  Sandpiper  is  an  inland  species,  which 
ranges  from  the  British  Provinces  to  Western  South 
America.  It  is  a  rare  bird  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
although  occasionally  taken  during  the  migrations.  It  may  always  be  distin- 
guished from  the  White-ruin ped  Sandpiper  by  its  dark  upper  tail  coverts,  and 
from  the  Pectoral  Sandpiper  by  the  absence  of  the  elongated  middle  tail 
feathers.  This  species  is  not  known  to  occur  on  the  Pacific  coast.  It  breeds 
in  the  Arctic  regions.  The  eggs  are  usually  four,  pale  brown  or  cream  buff, 
spotted  with  chestnut  brown. 


l.s 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


TRINQA    MINUTILLA   (Vieill.}. 
Least  Sandpiper. 


Adult  in  summer:   Very  small : 

pper  parts   marked   with  tawny 

lack  and  pale  buff;   under  parts, 

vhitish  on  the  throat,  shading  iu- 

ashy  gray,  showing  faint  brown- 

i  lines  on  the  breast ;  rest  of  the 

under  parts,  white ;  bill,  dull  black. 

No  web  between  toex. 


Adult  in  winter :   Similar  to  the  above,  but  grayer  in  color. 
Length,  5.50  to  6.50;  wing,  3.60;  tarsus,  .75;  bill,  .85. 

The  Least  Sandpiper  may  be  distinguished  from  the  Semipjilmated  Sand- 
piper by  the  absence  of  the  small  \veb  between  the  toes,  so  noticeable  in  that 
species. 

It  is  common  throughout  North  and  South  America,  breeding  north  of  the 
United  States  It  is  very  abundant  on  our  shores  during  the  migrations,  and 
is  one  of  the  species  known  to  gunners  by  the  name  of  Pee}).  The  eggs  arc 
three  to  four,  generally  pale  buff,  mottled  with  chestnut  brown. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


49 


SUBGENUS  PELIDNA  Cuv. 
TRINQA  ALPINA  PACIFICA      (Coues). 
Red-backed  Sandpiper. 

Adult  in  summer :  Bill  slightly  bent  down  near  the  tip ;  the  feathers 
on  the  top  of  the  head  and  back,  bright  rufous  brown,  heavily  blotched 
with  black  on  the  central  part  of  each  feather ;  throat,  whitish ;  breast 
streaked  with  black;  belly,  black  on  the  upper  part;  lower  belly  and 
crissuvn,  white;  bill,  black. 

Adult  in  winter :  Upper  parts,  gray,  slightly  mottled ;  throat, 
white ;  breast,  gray,  the  shafts  of  the  feathers  dark  brown ;  belly  and  under  tail  coverts,  pure 
white;  a  faint,  dull  white  superciliary  line. 

Length.  8;  wing,  4.75;  tarsus,  1.10;  bill,  1.65. 

The  Red-hacked  Sandpiper,  American  Dunlin,  or  Leadhack,  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  ranges  throughout  North  America  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  breeding  far  northward.  It  is  common  on  the  coasts  during  migra- 
tions, and  is  naturally  tame  and  unsuspicious.  It  frequents  both  beaches  and 


Tringa 


i>:ifitica. 


.Summer.  Winter. 

marshes,  and  is  usually  observed  in  flocks.  It  has  been  found  breeding  along 
the  shores  of  Behring  Sea  and  on  Melville  Peninsula.  The  eggs  are  usually 
four,  bluish  white  or  buffy  white,  marked  with  chocolate  brown,  mostly  at  the 
larger  end.  They  measure  about  1.40  x  1.  The  peculiar  decurved  bill  will 
always  distinguish  this  species. 

The  European  Dunlin,  T ring  a  alpina  (Linn.),  which  is  very  closely  allied 
to  the  American  form,  is  claimed  to  occur  in  Eastern  Xorth  America.  It 
differs  chiefly  in  being  somewhat  paler  in  coloration,  and  averages  slightly 
smaller,  but  these  differences  are  apparently  by  no  means  constant. 


50 


SHORE    BIUDS    OF    XOUTH    AMERICA. 


TRINQA    FERRUQINEA   Brunn. 
Curlew   Sandpiper. 


Trinjra 


Adult ,  xumtner  p lumage  .' 
Head,  neck,  and  under  parts,  ex- 
cept crissum,  cinnamon  brown, 
or  chestnut  brown  ;  upper  parts, 
blackish,  mixed  with  reddish 
brown;  upper  tail  coverts,  whit- 
ish, marked  with  black;  bill, 
slightly  decurved. 

Adult,  winter  plumage :  Up- 
per plumage,  gray  or  brownish 
gray,  the  feathers  showing  dark 
shaft  streaks,  a  superciliary 
stripe,  and  under  parts,  white ; 
the  chest  faintly  tinged  with 
gray;  rump,  white;  upper  tail 
coverts,  white,  marked  with 
black. 

Young  birds  have  the  upper 
plumage  dusky,  the  feathers 
edged  with  buff;  breast  tinged 
with  buff- 
Length,  7.25  to  9 ;  wing,  4.75 
to  5.20 ;  bill,  1.40  to  1.60 ;  tarsus, 
1.08  to  1.20 


The  Curlew  Sandpiper  is  an  old  world  species,  which,  although  it  has  been 
taken  a  number  of  times  on  our  shores,  can  only  be  considered  as  a  rare 
straggler.  Specimens  have  been  recorded  from  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  Massa- 
chusetts (3)  and  Long  Island.  It  has  also  been  taken  in  Alaska. 


SHOKE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


51 


SUBGENUS  ANCYLOCHEILUS   KAUP. 

GENUS  EREUNETES   ILLIGER. 

EREUNETES    PUSILLUS    (Linn.}. 

Semipalmated   Sandpiper     "Peep." 


KreniK'tes  pxisilltis. 


Adult  in  summer :  Heavily  marked  with  dark  brown  and  tawny  on  the  top 
of  the  head  and  back ;  forehead,  whitish ;  under  parts  and  throat,  white  ; 
breast,  mottled  with  grayish ;  belly,  white ;  toes  with  small  web. 

Achtlt  in  winter :  Upper  parts,  grayish,  mottled  with  brown  on  the  head, 
and  the  feathers  showing  dark  brown,  edged  with  white  on  the  back;  throat, 
white ;  breast,  very  faintly  washed  with  gray,  which  is  sometimes  very  indis- 
tinct; belly  and  under  tail  coverts,  white;  toes  tcith  small  wel>. 

Length,  6;  wing,  3.75;  tarsus,  .75;  bill,  .80. 


Ranges  from  the  Arctic  Sea,  southward,  to  the  West  Indies  and  South 
America,  it  is  common  on  the  beaches  and  marshes  of  the  Atlantic  coast 
during  migrations,  where  it  is  called  "Peep"  by  gunners.  In  size  and 
general  appearance  it  somewhat  resembles  the  Least  Sandpiper  (another 


52  SHORE  BIRDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

"  Peep  "  of  the  gunning  fraternity) ,  but  may  always  he  distinguished  from 
that  species  by  the  semi-palmated  or  partly  webbed  toes.  It  breeds  in  the 
arctic  regions.  The  eggs  are  buff  white,  mottled  with  brown  and  chocolate 
brown,  heaviest  on  the  larger  end.  They  are  usually  four  in  number  and 
measure  about  1.20  x  .85. 


EREUNETES  OCCIDENTALS  Lawr. 
Western  Semi  pal  mated  Sandpiper.     "  Peep." 

In  summer  plumage  this  species  may  be  distinguished  from  E.  pusiUus  by  its  longer  bill 
(which  is  oftentimes  1.25  inches  in  length,  while  E.pusillus  rarely,  if  ever,  has  the  bill  one  inch), 
by  its  decidedly  streaked  breast,  and  the  feathers  of  the  back  being  margined  with  rufous.  The 
winter  plumages,  however,  differ  but  little,  if  any,  and  occasionally  specimens  of  the  Western 
Sandpiper  occur  which  have  the  bill  less  than  one  inch,  and  in  such  cases  it  is  almost  impos- 
sible to  distinguish  them  from  the  winter  examples  of  E.  pusillun;  therefore  it  is  perhaps  as 
well  for  the  sportsmen  to  consider  all  of  those  birds  having  bills  less  than  one  inch  in  length 
to  be  E.  puxillus,  and  if  it  is  important  to  have  the  identification  absolutely  accurate,  they  could 
easily  obtain  the  opinion  of  some  professional  ornithologist  to  settle  such  a  fine  point. 

Length,  G;  wing,  3.85;  tarsus,  .82;  bill,  .90  to  1.15. 

The  Sandpiper  occasionally  occurs  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  although  its  home 
is  properly  in  the  West.  It  ranges  from  the  arctic  regions  and  Alaska,  where 
it  breeds,  south  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  South  America.  It  is  common  in 
Florida  in  winter,  more  so  on  the  west  than  on  the  east  coast. 

The  eggs  are  four,  pale  buff,  dotted  with  dark  brown  or  chocolate  brown. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF   NORTH    AMERICA. 


53 


GENUS  CALIDRIS   Cuv. 

CALIDRIS    ARENARIA   (Linn.). 
Sanderling.    Bull-peep. 


. 


Calidrta  arcnarin. 


Adult  in  summer :  Head,  throat,  and  upper  parts,  except  rump,  reddish  brown,  black,  and 
white:  throat  and  breast,  pale  rufous  brown,  with  more  or  less  dark  spots;  belly  and  under 
parts,  pure  white;  bill  and  feet,  blaek;  toes,  three. 

Adult  in  winter:  Top  of  the  head  and  back,  ash  gray,  the  shafts  of  the  feathers  being 
brown ;  forehead  and  entire  under  parts,  white ;  bill,  black. 

Length,  8.10;   wing,  5.05;  tarsus,  1;  bill,  1. 

This  cosmopolitan  speciesamay  always  be  distinguished  by  the  absence 
of  the  fourth  toe,  being  the  only  sandpiper*  occurring  on  our  coast  having 
three  toes.  It  is  common  during  migrations,  ranging  from  the  Arctic 


IMovers  also  have  three  toes. 


54 


CsHdrla  arenaria. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


regions  to  the  West  Indies  and  South  America,  being  nu- 
merous on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  as  well  as  in  the  interior. 
It  breeds  in  the  far  North. 

The  eggs,  which  are  usually  four,  are   light  olive  and  buff, 
spotted  with  brown. 


GENUS  LIMOSA  BRISSON. 
LIHOSA    FEDOA     (Linn.). 
narbled  Godwit.     Red  Harlin. 


Adult  in  summer:    Bill,  curved  slightly   upwj.nl;    upper   parts,  mottled   will,    black,  and 
tawuy;  upper  throat,  white,  rest  of  throat  finely  streaked  with  brown  ;  breast,  pale  tawny,  the 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  55 

feathers  banded  irregularly  with  brown ;  belly,  tawny,  sometimes  without  bauds ;  bill,  dull 
flesh  color  in  its  basal  half,  the  rest  blackish;  inner  webs  of  outer  primaries,  speckled  with 
black;  tail,  barred  with  black;  axillars,  irregularly  banded  with  dark  slaty  brown,  in  some 
instances  merely  showing  an  indication  of  bands  but  always  with  more  or  less  irregular  marks 
or  dots  where  the  bands  are  not  perfect. 

Adult  in  winter:  Top  of  the  head,  brown,  streaked  with  pale  brown;  feathers  of  the  back, 
dark  brown,  edged  with  tawny;  chin,  white;  throat,  pale  buff,  faintly  barred  with  brown; 
inner  webs  of  outer  primaries,  speckled  with  black. 

Length,  19 ;  wing,  8.80 ;  tarsus,  2.80 ;  bill,  3.50  to  4.50. 

The  Marbled  Godwit,  or  Marlin,  occurs  throughout  North  America,  breed- 
ing in  the  interior,  from  the  Missouri  region  northward.  On  the  Pacific  coast  it 
ranges  from  Alaska  to  Central  America,  and  is  very  common  in  some  localities 
in  Lower  California  and  Texas.  It  is  not  very  common  anywhere  on  the 
Atlantic  coast,  although  it  occurs  at  times  in  some  numbers  in  Florida. 


The  eggs  are  three  or  four,  dull  brownish  ash  color,  blotched  and  mottled 
with  gray  and  grayish  biown. 

The  Pacific  Godwit,  Limosa  lapponica  baueri  (Naum.),  has  once  bcen 
recorded  from  La  Paz,  Lower  California  (Bryant).  It  occurs  in  Alaska  in 
summer,  but  its  true  habitat  is  Australia  and  the  Pacific  Islands. 


56 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


LlflOSA    H>EMASTICA   (Linn.). 
Hudsonian  Godwit. 

Summer  plumaye :  Upper  parts, 
dark  brown,  the  feathers  showing 
spots  of  pale  rufous  brown  on  the 
edges;  rump,  white;  tail,  black, 
tipped  with  whitish;  chiu,  whitish 
with  pale  rufous;  rest  of  under 
parts,  dark  rufous  brown;  the 
feathers  of  the  throat  more  or  less 
streaked  with  black,  and  the  feath- 
ers of  the  breast  and  belly,  faintly 
edged  with  black;  axillars,  very 
dark  slate  color,  almost  black. 

Winter  plumaye:    Upper    plu- 

Limosa  h:i>m»iKtic8i.  mage,  dull  gray;    feathers  of  the 

back  more  or  less  edged  with  dark  brown;  chin,  whitish;  breast,  pale  gray;  shafts  of  the 
feathers  on  the  sides  of  the  breast,  brownish;  belly,  grayish  buff,  sometimes  bufty  white; 
under  tail  coverts,  whitish ;  axillars,  dark,  smoky  gray. 

Length,  15;  wing,  8  to  8.60;  tarsus,  2.40;  bill,  2.80  to  3.40. 


The  Hudsonian  Godwit, 
Ring-tailed  Marlin,  or  Goose- 
bird,  as  it  is  often  called, 
ranges  from  the  arctic  regions 
to  Southern  South  Aineric;i. 
It  is  common  in  suitable 
localities  during  migrations 
east  of  the  Kocky  Mountains 
but  does  not  occur  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  This  fine  bird, 
like  many  other  of  our  birds, 
is  gradually  becoming  less 
and  less  numerous.  It  breeds 
in  the  far  North.  The  eggs, 
which  are  generally  four  in 
number,  are  olive  brown,  spot- 
ted with  dark  brown,  and 
measure  about  2.20  x  1.35. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


TOTANUS    MELANOLEUCUS   (GmeL). 
Greater  Yellow=legs.     Winter  Yellow=legs. 

Adult  in  summer:  Bill,  nearly  straight;  upper  plu- 
mage, mottled  with  white  and  black ;  upper  tail  coverts, 
white,  barred  with  black;  throat,  white,  streaked  with 
black;  chiu,  whitish;  breast,  white,  heavily  streaked 
with  black;  rest  of  under  parts,  white,  irregularly 
marked  with  black:  middle  of  belly,  nearly  always  pure 
white ;  bill,  black,  and  legs,  yellow. 

Adult  in  winter :  Top  of  the  head  and  neck,  streaked 
white  and  dark  brown ;  back,  brown,  the  feathers  nar- 
rowly edged  with  whitish ;  chiu,  white ;  breast,  white, 
narrowly  lined  with  dark  brown;  rest  of  under  parts, 
white:  bill,  black,  and  legs,  yellow. 

Length,  14 ;  wing,  7.75  :  tarsus,  2.45 ;  bill,  2.30. 

The  Winter  Yellow-leg,  and  his  near  rela- 
tive, the  Summer  Yellow-leg,  are  probably  the 
best  known  representatives  of  any  of  our  shore 

Totaiuib  melanoleucus. 

birds.  The  clear,  sharp,  whistling  note,  re- 
peated rapidly  four  or  five  times,  descending  in  semi-tones  down  the  scale,  is 
known  to  gunners  throughout  the  land.  Although  not  as  abundant  as  in 
former  years,  it  is  still  numerous  in  many  localities  during  the  migrations. 
Its  range  extends  from  the  sub-arctic  regions  south  to  Chili  and  Buenos  Ayres, 
breeding  from  Illinois  northward. 

The  eggs  are  usually  three  or  four,  buff  brown,  a  pale  buff,  spotted  with 
dark   brown. 


58 


SHOKE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


TOTANUS    FLAV1PES   (Gmel.). 
Yellow-legs.    Summer  Yellow-legs. 

Upper  parts,  grayish  brown,  mottled  with  whitish 
oil  the  back;  chiu,  white;  throat,  white,  streaked  with 
pale  grayish  brown ;  breast,  mottled ;  belly,  white;  tail 
feathers,  banded  brown  and  white ;  upper  tail  coverts, 
white,  more  or  less  barred  with  black;  bill,  black; 
legs,  yellow.  Resembles  the  Greater  Yellow-legs, 
but  is  smaller.  Axillars,  white,  barred  with  brown. 

Length,  10.80;  wing,  6.45;  tarsus,  2.10;   bill,  1.45. 

Ranges  from  the  sub-arctic  regions  south- 
ward to  South  America.  The  Summer  Yel- 
low-legs resembles  the  preceding  species, 
but  is  smaller,  and  is  usually  much  more  tame  and  unsuspicious  than  the 
Winter  Yellow- legs,  and  comes  to  decoys  more  readily.  It  is  very  common 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  migrations.  The  note  is  similar,  though  per- 
haps not  so  sharp  and  loud.  It  breeds  in  the  interior,  from  Minnesota  and 
Illinois  northward.  The  eggs  are  pale  buff,  dotted  and  blotched  with  dark 
brown  and  chocolate  brown. 

The  Gree  n -.shank,  Totanas  nebulariits  (Gunn.),  a  European  species,  was 
taken  by  Audubon,  near  Cape  Sable,  Florida,  in  1882.  It  somewhat  resembles 
the  Yellow-leg,  but  has  the  rump  and  lower  back,  white,  and  the  legs,  greenish. 


Tolaiuis  llavipes. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


59 


SUBGENUS  RHYACOPHILUS  KAUP 


TOTANUS   SOLITARIUS  (Wils.). 
Solitary   Sandpiper. 


Totanus  solitarius. 


Adult  in  summer:  Top  of  head  and  back,  and 
upper  tail  coverts,  bronzy  green,  dotted  with 
white;  under  parts,  white;  the  breast,  thickly 
streaked  and  dotted  brown;  bill,  greenish  brown 
(in  life),  dusky,  terminally;  axillars,  white, 
heavily  barred  with  smoky  black. 

Adult  in  winter:  Upper  parts,  including  upper 
tail  coverts,  olive  brown,  showing  a  faint,  green- 
ish gloss  when  held  in  the  light,  the  feathers 
faintly  dotted  with  dull  white;  throat,  white; 
breast,  streaked  with  brown ;  rest  of  under  parts, 
white ;  axillars,  heavily  barred. 

Length,  8.50;  wing,  5.30;  tarsus,  1.20;  bill, 
1.30. 


This  species  ranges  from  the  sub-arctic  regions,  southward,  to  South 
America.  It  occurs  with  us  during  the  migrations,  and  breeds  from  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Illinois  northward.  It  is  usually  observed  about  inland  ponds  and 
rivers,  rarely  frequenting  the  salt  marshes.  The  eggs,  which  are  described 
from  a  single  specimen  taken  by  Jenness  Richardson,  in  Vermont,  and  described 
by  Dr.  Brewer,  are  light  drab  with  small  rounded  brown  markings,  having  a 
few  faint  purplish  marks  on  the  larger  end. 

The  European  Green  Sandpiper,  T.  ochropus  (Linn.),  has  been  recorded 
from  Nova  Scotia.  It  somewhat  resembles  T.  solitarius,  but  has  the  upper 
tail  coverts  white. 


GO 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


Symphenria  gemlpaluiata. 


GENUS   SYMPHEMIA    RAF. 

SYHPHEniA    SEniPALflATA    (Gme/.). 

Willet. 

HUMILITY.      STONR  CURLEW. 

Adult  in  summer :  Upper  plumage,  gray,  streaked 
on  the  head  with  dark  brown,  and  the  central  portion 
of  many  of  the  feathers  has  the  back  blotched  with 
brown ;  chin,  white ;  throat,  white,  dotted  with  brown ; 
under  parts,  dull  white,  the  feathers  on  the  sides 
barred  with  brown  and  washed  with  tawny ;  axillars, 
black;  bill,  bluish,  dusky  toward  end. 

Adult  in  winter :  Bill,  nearly  straight ;  upper  plum- 
age, gray,  showing  faint  indications  of  whitish  on  the 
tips  of  some  of  the  feathers  on  the  back ;  chin,  whit- 
ish ;  throat,  ashy  gray ;  the  rest  of  under  parts,  white, 
showing   ashy   on  the  sides  of  the  body ;  axillars, 
smoky  black.    The  broad,  white  band  on  the  wings 
is  a  distinguishing  character  of  this  bird  when  flying, 
formed  by  the  basal  portion  of 
the  primaries  and  some  of  the 
secondaries  being  white. 

Length,  15.50;  wing,  8.10; 
tarsus,  2.30;  bill,  2  to  2.30. 

Ranges  throughout  tem- 
p  e  r  a  t  e  North  America, 
south  to  the  West  Indies 
and  South  America.  It 
breeds  from  New  England 
to  Florida,  although  it 
does  not  breed  commonly 
north  of  the  Carolinas. 
It  is  a  very  common 
species  in  Florida,  where 
it  .frequents  the  beaches 
and  marshes,  where  its 
broad,  white  wing  band 
and  peculiar  whistle  will 

always  distinguish  it  from  other  species. 

The  eggs  are  three  in   number,  sometimes  four,  deposited  on  the  ground 

with  scarcely  any  indication  of  a  nest.     They  are  pale  buff  in  color,  spotted 

with  chocolate  brown,  heaviest  on  the  larger  end. 


.Symphctnia  seinipalmata. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


SYMPHEMIA  SEMIPALHATA  INORNATA  Brewst. 
Western  Willet. 

General  resemblance  to  the  preceding  species  but  the  upper  parts  are  paler  and  not  so 
heavily  marked  with  black ;  the  breast  shows  usually  more  buff  color.  In  winter  plumage  it 
resembles  the  eastern  form  except  in  size,  the  bill  usually  being  longer  and  the  bird  somewhat 
larger. 

Length,  15.60;  wing,  8.50;  tarsus,  2.55;  bill,  2.30  to  2.80. 

Common  throughout  Western  North  America  extending  east  to  Mississippi 
Valley  and  Gulf  States,  being  numerous  in  Florida  wi  winter.  It  breeds  from 
Texas  to  Manitoba. 


HETERACTITIS  INCANUS   (Gmet.). 
Wandering  Tattler. 


Hetenirtitis   incaniis. 


A  faint  superciliary  stripe  of  white 
and  loral  stripe 'of  black;  upper  plumage, 
slaty  gray,  showing  a  greenish  gloss  when 
held  in  the  light ;  throat,  whitish ;  breast, 
ashy  gray,  indistinctly  burred  with  dull 
brown;  belly,  white;  axillars,  gray. 

Length,  TO.fiO;  wing,  7;  bill,  1.50; 
tarsus,  1.30. 

The  Wandering  Tattler  does  not 
occur  in  Eastern  North  America, 
but  it  ranges  from  Norton  Sound, 
Alaska,  to  the  Galapagos  Islands, 
and  also  occurs  in  the  Hawaiian 
Islands  and  Kamchatka.  It  does 
not  seem  to  be  very  abundant  any- 
where, and  we  know  but  little  re- 
garding its  habits.  It  probably 
breeds  in  the  far  North  but  the  nest 
and  eggs  have  never  as  yet  been 
taken. 


62  SHORE    BIRDS    OF    XORTH    AMERICA. 


PAVONCELLA    PUGNAX  (Linn.}. 
European    Ruff. 

Adult  male  (spring  plumage)  :  Feathers  of  the  head  and  neck,  elongated,  forming  a  wide 
collar  or  ruff,  generally  white  and  huff;  rest  of  upper  parts  variegated  with  buff,  black,  dull 
white,  and  ochre;  primaries,  dark  brown,  with  white  shafts;  under  parts,  white,  heavily 
marked  with  blackish  brown  on  the  breast  and  sides;  face  covered  with  yellowish  tubercles; 
bill,  dark  brown,  lighter  at  the  base;  iris,  dark  brown;  legs,  brownish  yellow. 

Length,  12.50;  wing,  7;  tail,  2.70;  tarsus,  2;  bill,  1.55. 

Adult  female  (Reeve):  No  ruff,  as  in  the  male;  head  and  neck,  sandy  "brown,  mottled 
faintly  with  dark  brown ;  upper  parts  variegated  with  black  and  brown,  and  tinge  of  reddish ; 
under  parts,  dull  white,  mottled  on  the  breast  and  sides  with  brown.  The  rest  as  in  the  male. 

Male  (winter  plumage)  :  Lacking  the  ruff  and  tubercles  on  the  face;  plumage  resembles 
the  female.  The  specimens  figured  iu  the  plate  represent  two  adult  males  and  a  female.  The 
variation  of  the  coloration  of  the  plumes  of  the  former  is  very  great;  the  ruff  may  be  black, 
white,  or  chestnut  barred,  and  banded  in  various  ways,  or  plain  white,  but  generally  showing 
a  tinge  of  buff  or  black. 

The  European  Ruff  has  been  taken  a  number  of  times  in  Eastern  North 
America.  Specimens  have  been  recorded  from  Long  Island,  Massachusetts, 
Maine,  Ohio,  and  elsewhere.  (Coues,  Key  to  N.  A.  Bds  ,  p.  (541.) 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


63 


European  Huff. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


GENUS  BARTRAMIA   LESS. 

BARTRAHIA    LONGICAUDA    (Bechst.) . 
Bartram's  Sandpiper.     Upland  Plover.     Field  Plover. 

Summer pluinaye :  Upper  plumage,  dark  brown,  or  brownish  black;  the 
feathers  edged  with  pale  buff ;  upper  throat,  white ;  lower  throat,  pale  buff 
lined  with  dark  brown;  breast,  pale  buff  with  arrow-shaped  markings  of  dark 
brown :  belly,  pale  butt*;  axillars  banded  with  dark  slaty  brown  and  white : 
outer  primaries,  white,  banded  with  brown  on  the  inner  webs. 

Winter  plumat/e :  Similar  but  paler. 

Length,  11.75;  wing,  6.60;  tarsus,  1.90;  bill,  1.20. 

^^^  The     Bartram's      Sand- 

piper, or  Upland  Plover, 
ranges  in  North  America, 
from  Alaska  to  Nova 
Scotia,  and  south  to  South 
America,  hut  mainly  east 
of  the  Rocky  mountains. 
It  is  not  very  common 
anywhere  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  nowadays,  although 
at  one  time  it  was  an  abun- 
dant species  on  our  hills 
during  the  migrations.  A 
good  diagnostic  character 
of  this  species  is  the  barred 
primary.  It  breeds  from 
Virginia  northward.  The 
eggs  are  four  or  five  in 
number  of  a  pale  brownish 
color,  mottled  with  chocolate  brown  near  the  larger  end. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  65 


GENUS   TRYNGITES    CABANIS. 
TRYNQ1TES   SUBRUFICOLLIS 
Puff -breasted  Sandpiper. 

Summer  plumayc :  Upper  plumage,  buff, 
mottled  with  black ;  the  feathers  on  the  back, 
black,  edged  with  buft';  under  parts,  having 
a  mottled  buft*  and  white  appearance,  caused 
by  the  exposed  portion  of  the  feathers  being 
buff,  narrowly  tipped  with  white ;  the  feathers 
are  dark  slate  color  at  base,  but  the,  slate  color 
is  entirely  concealed;  inner  web  of  first 
primary,  white,  speckled  with  dark  brown  ; 
the  inner  primaries  and  secondaries,  narrowly 
tipped  with  white,  showing  a  sub-terminal 
baud  of  black;  axillars,  white. 
Tryugiteti  subruticolliir  Winter  plumage :  Similar,  but  paler. 

Length,  8;  wing,  5.30;  tarsus,  1.25;  bill,  .85. 

Not  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  const,  usually  keeping  to  the  interior.     It 
breeds   from    British  America  northward 
to  the  Arctic  Ocean.     It  ranges,  in  win- 
ter, south  to  South  America. 

,  .  First  primary. 

I  he  eggs  are    described  as    three    or 

four,    pale,    buft'  white,   spotted    and    lined    with  dark  brown  and  purplish 
brown. 


66 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA 


GENUS   ACTITIS    ILI.IGER. 
ACTITIS    MACULARIA   (Linn.). 
Spotted   Sandpiper. 

Adult  in  summer :  Top  of  the  head  and  back,  olive  green,  showing  bronzy  reflections  when 
held  in  the  light,  some  of  the  feathers  on  the  back  irregularly  marked  with  brown;  under 
parts,  white,  marked  with  large,  round  black  spots. 


.\iiiili  in  winter:  Above,  olive,  showing  a  faint,  bronzy  luster  when  held  in  the  light: 
IV.-ithrrs  on  the  back,  faintly  tipped  with  dusky;  wing  coverts,  narrowly  banded  with  tawny: 
throat,  white;  breast,  faintly  tinged  with  ashy ;  under  parts,  including  belly  and  under  tail 
coverts,  white;  mandible  and  edge  of  the  maxilla,  pale  wax  yellow  (in  life),  rest  of  bill,  black. 

Length,  8;  wing,  4.20;  tarsus,  1;  bill,  1. 

The  Spotted  Sandpiper  ranges  throughout  North  America  to  Northern  South 
America.  It  is  a  very  common  bird  on  our  coast,  being  usually  seen  alone  or 
in  pairs.  It  is  common  on  small  streams  of  fresh  water  and  also  on  sand 
beaches,  usually  selecting  rocky  places.  It  breeds  nearly  throughout  its  range, 
tin-  eggs  being  butt'  white  or  pale  brown,  spotted  with  dark  brown,  mostly  on 
the  larger  end. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


67 


GENUS   NUMENIUS    BRISSON. 

NUHENIUS    LONGIROSTRIS    Wils. 

Long-billed  Curlew.    Sickle  Bill. 

Adult  in  summer:  Upper  parts  marked  with  buff  and  black;  tail  feathers,  alternately 
bancled  with  tawny  buft'  and  brown ;  throat,  whitish ;  rest  of  under  parts,  pale  reddish  brown, 
becoming  very  light  on  the  belly;  breast,  narrowly  striped  with  brown  on  the  middle  of  the 
feathers;  bill,  very  long;  axillars,  rufous  brown. 


T/J. 


Long-billed  Curlew. 


Esquimaux  Curlew. 


Hudsonian  Curlew. 


A<liilt  in  winter:  General  plumage,  tawny  brown;  the  back,  blackish,  mottled  with  butt'; 
top  of  the  head,  dark  brown;  the  feathers,  edged  with  tawny;  throat,  white;  under  parts,  pale 
buff  brown;  feathers  on  the  lower  throat  and  upper  breast,  finely  lined  with  dark  brown;  bill, 
very  long  and  curved  downward ;  bill,  black,  becoming  dull  lilac  brown  on  basal  half  of  the 
mandible;  axillars,  rufous  brown. 

Length,  26;  wing,  10.50;  tarsus,  2.30;  bill,  very  variable,  measuring  from  2.50  to  9. 

The  immature  of  this  species  has  the  bill  nearly  straight,  but  quite  short,  sometimes  not 
exceeding  two  inches  in  length. 


68  SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 

The  Long-billed  Curlew   ranges  from  temperate  North  America  south  to 
Central  America  and  the  West  Indies.     It  breeds  in  the  Southern  Atlantic 


priiuary 


States,  but  is  now  not  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  is  becoming  less  so 
every  year.  The  eggs  are  described  as  olive  gray  in  color,  spotted  with 
chocolate  brown. 


NUMENIUS  HUDSONICUS  Lath. 
Hudsonian  Curlew.     Jack  Curlew. 

Adult  in  summer :  Bill  curved 
downward;  top  of  the  head, 
brown,  with  a  stripe  of  buffy 
white  through  the  middle ;  rest 
of  upper  parts,  dark  brown ; 
feathers,  pale  on  the  edges, 
giving  a  slightly  mottled  ap- 
pearance to  the  back;  chin, 
white;  throat  and  breast 
streaked  and  faintly  barred 
with  brown  and  white;  belly, 
^"  **"- — 3^*  "^- — '%&*-3iit%L^_  dull  white ;  an  imperfect  super- 

Axlllar-     ciliary    stripe;    axillars,    pale 
buff,   barred  with  slaty   brown;  first  primary,  barred  on  inner  web. 

Adult  in  winter:  Similar  to  the  last,  but  showing  much  more  tawny  mottled  on  the  upper 
parts,  and  the  under  parts,  paler ;  a  superciliary  stripe  of  dull  white :  axillars,  pale  buff,  barred 
with  slaty  brown  ;  first  primary,  barred  on  inner  web. 
Length,  17.50;  wing,  0.20:  tarsus,  2.30;  hill,  3  to  3.75. 

Ranges  throughout  North  America,  breeding  in  the   arctic    regions  and 
migrating  in  the  fall  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  South  America.     During  the 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


69 


migrations  it  is  a  well  known  bird  to  gunners  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  but  is  not 
easy  to  kill  as  it  pays  but  little  attention  to  decoys  and  will  not  be  enticed 
within  shot,  however  good  the  imitation  of  its  trilling  whistle.  It  breeds  in 


the  far  North.     The  eggs  are  usually  three  or  four,  grayish  olive  spotted  with 
brown. 

This  species  may  always  be  distinguished  from  the  Esquimo  Curlew  by  the 
barred  inner  web  of  the  primary  and  the  bufty  stripe  on  the  middle  of  the 
crown,  and  from  the  Long-billed  Curlew  by  the  heavily  barred  axillars. 


70 


SHORE    BIKDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


XuifieniiiH  borealis. 


NUHENIUS    BOREALIS  (Forst.}. 
Eskimo  Curlew.     Dough   Bird. 

Adult  in  summer:  Bill,  curved  down- 
ward, general  plumage  above,  mottled  black 
and  tawny;  chin,  whitish;  throat  and  under 
parts,  tawny  buff,  marked  on  the  throat 

with  dark  brown,  and  on  the  breast  with  arrow-like  brown 

markings ;  flank 

and  sides  of  the 

body,    tawny, 

the    .arrow-like 

marks  being 

much     heavier 

and  larger ;  top 

of    the    head 

showing  no  cen- 
tral stripe  of 

butty  white ;  in- 
ner web  of  first 

primary   with- 


out bars:  axil- 
lars,  barred  with  slaty  brown.  Filst  primary.  Axiiiare. 

Adult  in  winter:  Lacking  the  tawny  color  of 

the   summer  plumage;   more  whitish   on  the  under  parts,   otherwise  the  markings  beino- 
similar. 

Length,  13;  wing,  8.10;  tarsus,  2;  bill,  2.75  to  3.50. 

It  ranges  from  the  arctic  regions,  where  it  breeds,  southward  to  South 
America.  It  is  more  common  in  the  interior  than  on  the  coast,  although  it 
was  :it  one  time  a  common  bird  in  the  New  England  States  during  the  migra- 
tions. It  prefers  the  fields  to  the  beaches,  being  often  found  in  company  with 
the  Golden  Plover.  The  eggs  are  described  as  pale  olive  gray,  spotted  with 
dark  brown,  mostly  at  the  larger  end. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


71 


FAMILY    CHARADRIID^.     PLOVERS. 

The  Plovers  are  a  cosmopolitan   family,  numbering  something  less  than 
one  hundred  species,  fifteen  of  which  occur  in  North  America,  including  exotic 


Black-bellied  Plover  (Winter). 


Piping  Plover. 


Semipahnated  Plo\ 


stragglers.  Asa  rule  they  have  but  three  toes,  although  tuo  genera,  Squat- 
arola  and  Vanellus,  have  four.  The  tarsus  is  reticulate  and  the  toes  are  partly 
webbed. 


72 


SHORE    B1UUS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


GENUS  CHARADRIUS   LINN. 

SUBGENUS  SQUATAROLA   (Cuv.). 

CHARADRIUS   SQUATAROLA    (Linn.'). 

Black-bellied  'Plover.     Beetle  Head.     Black-breast. 


Char.ulriim  BquaUirola. 


Adult  mule  in  summer:  Upper  parts, 
smoky  black ;  feath- 
ers, edged  with  dull 
white ;  breast,  black 
in  highest  plumage, 
but  usually  showing 
traces  of  whitish  on 
the  feathers;  abdo- 
men and  under  tail 
coverts,  white;  forehead,  white;  axil- 
lars,  smoky  black. 

Adult  in  winter:  Upper  plumage, 
brownish,  mottled  with  gray;  under 
parts,  white ;  breast  and  sides,  streaked 
with  ashy  brown;  bill,  black. 

Length,  11.25;  wing,  7.45;  tarsus, 
1.85;  bill,  1.10. 


This  species  may  always  be  distinguished  from  the  Golden  Plover  by  the 
presence  of  a  rudimentary  hind  toe  and  the  black  axillars,  which  are  gray  in 
the  Golden  Plover. 

It  ranges  from  the  arctic  regions  to  South  America,  being  common  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  during  migrations.  It  breeds  in  the  far  North ;  the  eggs  are 
usually  four,  pale  olive  brown,  spotted  and  speckled  with  brown  and  black. 
The  note  is  a  soft  whistle,  si-sol,  of  the  scale. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMEUICA. 


73 


SUBGENUS  CHARADRIUS  LINN. 

CHARADRIUS    DOHINICUS   Mull. 

American  Golden  Plover.    Green  Plover. 

Summer  plumaye :  Back  and  upper  parts,  smoky  black ;  feathers  marked  and  edged  with 
yellow  and  brown;  sides  of  the  breast,  whitish;  rest  of  under  parts,  throat,  and  sides  of  the 
head,  including  eye,  black;  forehead,  whitish,  a  white  stripe  extending  backwards  over  the 
eye;  down  the  sides  of  the  neck;  bill,  black:  axillars,  gray. 

Winter  plumaye:  Upper  parts,  brownish,  feathers  marked  with  dull  tawny  yellow  or  buff; 
under  parts  are  dilll  white,  streaked  with  ashy  brown  or  gray  on  the  breast  and  sides. 

Length.  10.25;  wing,  7;  tarsus,  1.55;  bill,  .1)2. 


This  species  may  always  be  distinguished  in  any  plumage  from  the  Black- 
breast    Plover  by   the  gray  axillars  and    the  absence    of  the 
small   rudimentary  hind  toe. 

It  ranges  from  the  arctic  regions  where  it  breeds  to  South 
America,  being  common  on  the  coast  during  migration.  It  was 
at  one  time  abundant  in  New  England  in  the  early  fall,  but  its 
numbers  have  decreased  greatly  within  the  past  few  years. 
While  it  prefers  the  hills  and  fields,  it  also  frequents  the 
marshes  and  occasionally  the  sand  flats.  The  eggs  are  buff 
colored  or  brownish  white,  mottled  and  marked  with  chocolate 
brown. 

The  European  Lapwing,  Vanellus  vaneUus  (Linn.),  has  once  been  recorded 
from  Long  Island  (Dutcher,  Auk  III.,  1886,  p.  438). 


71 


SHOKE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


GENUS   AEGIALITIS    BOIE. 

SUBGENUS  OXYECHUS   REICH. 

AEQFALITIS    VOCIFERA    (Linn.). 

KHldeer  Plover. 

Ailult:  Crown  nud  back,  brownish  gray,  feathers  tipped  with  rufous;  a  ring  around  the 

neck,  lores,  and  a  patch  ou  the  breast,  black ;  fore- 
head, white ;  throat  and  spot  behind  the  eye  and  a 
baud  around  the  ueck,  white;  lower  breast  and 
belly,  white ;  tail  coverts  and  rump,  bright  rufous ; 
tail,  rufous  and  gray,  tipped  with  black  and  white; 
bill,  black. 
Length,  10.65;  wing,  6.55;  tarsus,  1.40;  bill,  .75. 


The  Killdeer  Plover  ranges  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  from  Newfoundland  to  the  West  Indies  and 
South  America,  although  as  a  rule  it  is  a  rare  bird 
in  New  England.  In  November,  1888,  a  great 
flight  of  these  birds  occurred  along  the  coast  of 
Massachusetts,  and  hundreds  of  them  were  offered 
for  sale  in  the  markets.  The  writer  killed  several 

near  Hyannis,  Mas*.,  at  that  time.     It  is  abundant  in  the  Gulf  States  in  winter, 
and  its  shrill  notes  are  very  familiar  sounds  to  the  Southern  sportsmen. 

It  breeds  throughout  its  range.     The  eggs  are  described  as  pale  brownish 
white,  mottled  and  lined  with  chocolate  brown. 


SHORE    BIRIJS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


75 


SUBGENUS  AEGIALITIS  Bom. 

/EQIALITIS   SEniPALHATA  Bonap. 

Semipalmated  Plover.     Ring=neck. 

Adult  in  summer :  Forehead,  white,  succeeded  by  a  band  of 
black ;  rest  of  head,  back,  and  wings,  ashy  gray ;  a  dull  stripe 
of  blackish  passing  from  the  bill  under  the  eye  to  the  sides  of 
the  neck ;  a  small  patch  of  white  back  of  the  eye ;  a  broad  band 
of  black  on  the  breast;  rest  of  under  parts,  white;  throat, 
white,  extending  around  the  neck  and  joining  at  the  back  in  a 
very  narrow  stripe ;  secondaries,  tipped  with  white ;  bill  black, 
orange  at  the  base;  a  bright  orange  ring  around  the  eye;  toes 
webbed  at  base. 

Adult  in  winter:  Similar,  but  the  black  marking  replaced 
by  brownish  or  gray. 

Length,  fi.XO;  wing,  4.75;  tarsus,  .J)3;  bill,  .50. 

^sgiaiititf  twiiiipainiiitti.  Ranges  from  the  arctic  regions  to  South  America, 

breeding  from  Labrador  northward.  It  is  a  common  species  on  our  coast 
during  the  migrations.  The  eggs  are  usually  four,  pale  brownish  white, 
spotted  with  chocolate  brown. 

The  Little  Ring  Plover,  ^Egialitis  dubia,  an  Asiatic  species,  is  of  accidental 
occurrence  on  the  coast  of  California. 


/EQIALITIS  flELODA   (Ord.}. 
Piping  Plover. 

Adult  in  summer:  Upper  parts,  ashy;  forehead, 
white,  separated  from  the  ash  color  of  the  head  by  a 
narrow  patch  of  black ;  a  band  on  the  side  of  the  breast, 
black;  under  parts  and  a  ring  around  the  neck,  white. 

Adult  in  winter :  Similar  to  the  summer  plumage,  but 
the  black  marking  replaced  by  grayish  buff,  or  ashy  gray, 
instead  of  black;  bill,  orange  at  base,  tipped  with  black. 

Length,  7.20;  wing,  4.80;  tarsus,  .90;  bill,  .50. 

Ranges  from  Labrador  to  the  West  Indies 
and  South  America.     It  is  a  common  species 
on  the  New  England  coast  during  the  migra- 
tions, and   is  a  regular  winter  visitant   to    Florida,   although    not  abundant. 
The  Piping  Plover  breeds  from  Virginia  to  Labrador  and  Newfoundland. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four,  dull  white,  marked  with  dark  brown. 


76  SHORE    BIKD8    OF   NORTH    AMEllICA. 

/CQIALITIS  MELODA  CIRCUMCINCTA     Rid'w. 
Belted  Piping  Plover. 

It  is  similar  to  A.  meloda,  but  differs  in  having  an  unbroken  black  band 
from  the  sides  joined  in  front  of  the  neck  forming  a  complete  collar.  This 
form  occurs  on  the  coast  during  the  migrations.  It  breeds  commonly  in  the 
interior  from  Northern  Illinois  north  to  Winnipeg,  and  migrates  in  winter  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

/EQIALITIS    NIVOSA    Cass. 
Snowy   Plover. 

Adult  in  summer:  Upper  plumage,  light  brownish 
gray,  or  buft'y  gray;  forehead  and  superciliary  region, 
lores,  and  under  parts,  pure  white ;  a  patch  of  black  on 
the  front  part  of  the  crown,  bordering  the  white  fore- 
head ;  a  small  patch  of  black  on  the  ear  coverts,  and  a 
black  patch  on  each  side  of  the  chest;  bill,  entirely 
black. 

The  female  is  similar,  but  has  the  black  marking 
duller,  faint  grayish. 

Winter  plumage,  male :  General  resemblance  to  the 
adult  male  in  summer,  but  the. black  marking  replaced 
by  grayish  brown,  or  buft'  gray ;  legs,  black ;  bill,  entirely 
black,  which  is  a  good  diagnostic  character. 

^KiniitiH  nivosa.  Length,  6.30  to  7.10;    wing,  4.20  to  4.35;    bill,  .GO: 

tarsus,  .88  to  1.05. 

The  Snowy  Plover  is  common  on  the  Pacific  coast,  from  Northern  Califor- 
nia to  Central  and  South  America.  It  also  occurs,  in  winter,  in  man}'  of  the 
Gulf  States,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  northwestern  Florida. 

The  eggs  are  laid  in  a  mere  depression  in  the  sand.  They  are  usually  four 
in  number,  buff  gray  color,  spotted  with  black. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  77 


SUBGENUS  OCHTHODROMUS   REICH. 

^EQIALITIS    WILSONIA   (Ord). 

Wilson's  Plover. 


Adult  male :  Above,  ashy  brown ;  forehead,  white, 
extending  into  a  faint  superciliary  stripe  of  dull  black 
on  the  crown;  throat,  white,  continuing  on  the  sides  of 
the  neck,  nearly  joining  upon  the  nape ;  a  black,  pecto- 
ral baud,  the  feathers  edged  with  white,  becoming  brown 
upon  the  sides ;  under  parts,  white ;  two  central  tail 
feathers,  brown,  the  others  showing  increasing  markings 
of  white  to  the  outer  tail  feathers,  which  are  white ;  bill, 
black  (large  and  stout) ;  legs,  pinkish. 

Female  and  immature  birds  have  the  pectoral  baud 
brown,  and  no  black  on  the  head. 

Length,  7.45;    wing,  4.GO;   tail,  1.90;   tarsus,  1.16; 

bill,  .90. 
TEpialitis  Wilsonia. 

Wilson's  Plover  occurs  both  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  North 
America,  ranging  from  Long  Island  and  Lower  California  southward  to  the 
West  Indies  and  South  America.  Stragglers  have  been  recorded  as  far  north 
as  Nova  Scotia. 

It  frequents  the  sandy  beaches  and  flats  often  in  company  with  other  species. 
It  breeds  from  Virginia  southward,  the  nest  being  a  mere  depression  in  the 
sand.  The  eggs  are  usually  three  in  number,  dull  white,  spotted  and  marked 
with  chocolate  brown. 


78 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


SUBGENUS  PODASOCYS  COUES. 

>EQIALITIS   MONTANA   (Towns.). 

Mountain  Plover. 

Summer  plumage :  Forehead  and  stripe 
over  the  eye,  white ;  a  stripe  of  black  from  the 
bill  to  the  eye ;  front  of  crown,  black ;  rest  of 
upper  plumage,  including  back  and  crown, 
grayish  butt' tinged  with  tawny;  throat,  white; 
breast,  faintly  washed  with  tawny  butt';  rest  of 
under  parts,  white ;  axillurs,  white. 

Winter  plumage:  Entire  upper  plumage,  in- 
cluding crown,  buff  gray;  feathers,  faintly 
edged  with  tawny;  throat,  whitish;  breast, 
more  or  less  tinged  with  buff  or  brownish 
white ;  rest  of  under  parts,  pure  white ;  axil- 
lars,  white. 

Length,  8.75;  wing,  6;  tarsus,  1.60;  bill,  .95. 

"  Temperate  North  America  from  the  great 
plains,  westward;  accidental  in  Florida."  (A. 
O.  U.) 

The  Mountain  Plover  is  strictly  an  inland  species,  rarely,  if  ever,  frequent- 
ing the  shores  and  marshes  of  the  coast.  It  ranges  from  Central  Kansas  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  migrating  in  winter,  southward,  to  Southern  and  Lower 
California  and  Mexico,  and  probably  along  the  Gulf  c«-ast  in  some  localities, 
as  it  has  been  taken  in  Florida.  It  breeds  from  Kansas  northward  to  the 
British  boundary.  The  eggs  are  three,  grayish  olive,  spotted  with  dark 
brown. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


79 


FAMILY    APHRIZID.^      SURF    BIRDS  AND    TURNSTONES. 
SUBFAMILY   APHRIZINAE.     SURF    BIRDS. 

GENUS  APHRIZA  AUDUBON. 

APHRIZA    VIRGATA    (GmeL). 

Surf  Bird. 


Ajihriza  virgatsi 


Aphriza  virgata. 


Adult,  summer  plumage :  Upper  plumage,  streaked  and  mottled  with  black  and  grayish 
white ;  the  scapulary  plumes  and  some  of  the  back  feathers,  rufous  with  a  sub-terminal  baud 
of  black  tipped  with  white ;  rump,  dark  brownish  slate  color ;  upper  tail  coverts,  white ;  tail 
feathers,  black,  narrowly  tipped  with  white ;  under  parts,  dotted  with  black  on  the  throat 
and  spotted  with  black  on  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  body,  the  breast  showing  more  or 
less  gray. 

Winter  plumage :  Entire  upper  parts,  dark  brownish  gray ;  throat,  whitish ;  breast, 
brownish  gray ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white,  dotted  more  or  less  with  brownish  gray ;  rump, 
dark  gray ;  upper  tail  coverts,  white ;  tail,  brownish  black  tipped  with  white ;  axillars,  white. 

The  Surf  Bird  occurs  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  North  and  South  America, 
from  Alaska  to  Chili,  hut  is  apparently  nowhere  common.  The  nest  and 
eggs  are  unknown.  It  has  never  been  taken  in  Eastern  North  America. 


80 


SHORE    BIUDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


SUBFAMILY   ARENARIIN^.      TURNSTONES. 
GENUS  ARENARIA    BRISSON. 

ARENARIA    INTERPRES   (Linn.). 


Summer.  Arenaria  interpres.  Winter. 

Turnstone. 

CHICKEN  PLOVER.     BRANT  BIRD.     CALICO  BACK. 

Adult  in  summer :  General  upper  parts,  mottled  and  variegated  with  black,  white,  rufous 
and  tawny ;  throat  and  breast,  black  and  white ;  rest  of  under  parts,  white ;  tail,  with  subter- 
ini n.-i I  band  of  black,  tipped  with  white. 

Adult  in  winter :  Above,  light,  streaked  and  dashed  with  dark  brown ;  an  imperfect  band 
of  dark  brown  on  the  jugulum ;  chin  and  upper  part  of  the  throat,  white ;  sides  of  breast,  like 
the  back ;  rest  of  the  under  parts,  white ;  a  distinct  white  band  on  the  wing ;  rump,  white,  but 
with  a  broad  patch  of  black  on  the  upper  tail  coverts;  tail,  dark  brown,  the  tips  and  basal  half 
of  the  inner  feathers,  and  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  outer  feathers,  white;  legs,  reddish  orange; 
bill,  black. 

Length,  8.65;  wing,  5.70;  tail,  2.60;  tarsus,  1;  bill,  .95. 

The  Turnstone,  Chicken  Plover,  or  Brant  Bird,  as  it  is 
variously  called,  is  a  cosmopolitan  species.     It  is  common  on 
both  coasts  of  North  America,  and  occasionally  occurs  in  the    Arenai-ia 
interior,  on  the  shores  of  the  larger  lakes  and  rivers.     It  breeds  in  the  arctic 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  81 

regions.  The  eggs,  which  are  usually  four,  are  dull  clay  color,  marked  with 
pale  brown  or  grayish  brown,  and  measure  about  1.55  x  1.15. 

It  is  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast  during  migrations,  frequenting  sandy 
beaches  and  flats,  sometimes  in  small  flocks,  but  often  alone  or  with  a  single 
companion. 

It  has  received  its  name  from  the  manner  in  which  it  turns  over  small  peb- 
bles and  shells  while  searching  for  the  small  crustaceans  and  insects  upon 
which  it  feeds. 


ARENARIA    MELANOCEPHALA    (Vig.). 

Black  Turnstone. 

Adult,  xummcr  pJ>tma</c:  General  plumage,  brownish  black, 
with  a  tinge  of  orange;  forehead  and  breast,  streaked  with 
white;  a  white  spot  on  the  lores,  and  a  white  bar  on  the  wing; 
belly  and  crissum.  white. 

Adult,  wintt-r  pluni'iije:  Similar,  but  lacks  the  white  on  the 
head  and  breast. 

Length,  !) ;  wing.  5.90;  bill,  1:  tarsus,  1. 

The  Black  Turnstone  occurs  only  on  the  Pacific 
coast  of  North  America,  ranging  from  Point  Barrow, 
Alaska,  to  Lower  California.     It  breeds  from  Alaska 
to  British  Columbia.     The  eggs  arc  three  or  four, 
dull  clay  color,  markrd  with  dusky  brown. 


82 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


FAMILY    H^MATOPODID^E.     OYSTER-CATCHERS. 
GENUS  HAEMATOPUS  LINN. 

H>enATOPUS   PALLIATUS   Temm. 
American  Oyster  -catcher. 

Winter  plumage,  male :  Head 
and  neck,  blackish  or  very  dark 
brown ;  back,  brown ;  lower  part 
of  breast  and  rest  of  under  parts, 
white;  eyelids,  rump,  tips  of 
wing  coverts,  part  of  secondaries, 
and  basal  portion  of  the  tail  feath- 
ers, white;  bill,  reddish  orange, 
darkening  at  the  tip  (in  summer, 
deep  red) ;  legs,  flesh  color. 

Length,  17.40;  wing,  10.05; 
tail,  4.35;  tarsus,  2.30;  bill,  3.50. 

The  American  Oyster- 
catcher  is  a  strictly  mari- 
time species,  frequenting 
the  beaches  and  flats  ex- 
posed by  the  tide,  where  it 
searches  for  clams  and  small  bivalves.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  suitable  locali- 
ties on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  New  Jersey  southward,  and  on  the  Pacific  side 
from  Lower  California  to  Patagonia.  Stragglers  have  been  taken  on  the  coast 
of  Maine  and  Massachusetts.  The  eggs  are  laid  in  a  depression  in  the  sand. 
They  are  usually  three  or  four,  buff  white  in  color,  blotched  and  spotted  with 
chocolate  brown,  and  measure  about  2.20x1.50. 


palli.-itu-. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA.  83 

H>EMATOPUS    FRAZARI.    Brewster. 
Frazar's  Oyster-catcher. 

Geographical  distribution  :  "Lower  California  (both  coasts),  north,  to  Los 
Coronados  Islands."  (A.  O.  U.) 

Three  specimens  of  this  interesting  species  were  procured  by  Mr.  Frazar 
north  of  La  Paz,  on  the  Gulf  of  California.  It  is  described  as  "  differing  from 
the  North  American  bird  in  having  a  stouter  and  more  depressed  bill,  little  or 
no  white  on  the  eyelids ;  the  back,  scapulars,  and  wing-coverts,  richer  and 
deeper  brown,  the  primaries  and  tail  feathers,  darker  :  the  upper  tail-coverts, 
more  or  less  varied  with  brown  and  white  ;  the  lateral  under  tail-coverts,  marked 
with  brown ;  the  bend  of  the  wing  and  greater  under  primary  coverts,  mottled 
with  black  ;ind  white ;  from  the  Galapagos  species  in  the  rather  shorter  bill 
and  distinctly  brown  (instead  of  sooty  black)  back,  scapulars  and  wing-coverts, 
dark  markings  on  the  under  tail-coverts,  and  the  greater  amount  of  white  on 
the  under  primary  coverts ;  from  both  the  above-mentioned  species  in  the 
broad  zone  of  mottled  black  and  white  feathers  extending  across  the  breast. 
Extreme  measurements,  three  specimens,  all  males:  wing,  9.75  to  10.27  ;  tail, 
3.90  to  4.26  ;  tarsus,  2.18  to  2.30  ;  bill,  length  from  nostril,  2.35  to  2.37  :  from 
leathers,  2.99  to  3.05;  depth  at  angle,  49.53."  (Brewster,  Auk.  V.,  Jan., 
1888,  p.  84.) 


H/EHATOPUS  BACHflANI  Aud. 
Black  Oyster-catcher. 

Adult.     Sp.  char. :   Head  and  neck,  black ;  rest  of  plumage,  dark  brown  or  brownish  black ; 
bill,  vermilion  red ;  legs  and  feet,  flesh  color. 

Length,  16.50;  wing,  9.20;  bill,  2.70;  tarsus,  1.70. 

Geographical  distribution:    "Pacific   coast   of  North    America,  from   the 
Aleutian  Islands  to  La  Paz,  Lower  California."     (A.  O.  U.) 


84 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


.Iiiriiii.-is. 


SHORE    BIRDS    OF    NORTH    AMERICA. 


85 


FAMILY    JACANID/E. 

JACANA    SPINOSA   (Linn.). 

Mexican   Jacana. 

Sp.  char.  Adult  male:  Bill  and  comb, 
pale  orange;  bare  skin  at  the  base  of  the 
lower  mandible,  pale  bluish  white;  head, 
neck,  and  upper  breast,  dark,  lustrous 
green;  back  and  wing  coverts,  purple, 
shading  into  rich  golden  brown  near  the 
rump;  rump  and  tail  coverts,  mirple; 
under  parts,  dark  purple,  showing  a  tinge 
of  dark  rufous  on  the  crissum ;  most  of 
the  primaries  and  secondaries,  yellow, 

edged  with  brown;  tail,  rufous  brown;  carpal  spur  (a  horny  spur  on  bend  of  \viug),  pale 

orange;  legs  and  feet,  dull  olive. 

Length.  9;  wing,  5;  tail,  2.25;  tarsus,  2.20:  bill,  1.30. 

The  immature  plumage  is  very  different,  but  the  bird  in  any  plumage  can 
hardly  be  confounded  with  any  other  North  American  species. 

Geographical  distribution:  "Lower  Rio  Grande  Valley,  Texas,  south  to 
Panama^  Cuba  and  Hayti."  (A.  O.  U.) 

The  Jacana  is  given  a  place  among  our  birds  from  its  casual  occurrence  in 
the  Lower  Rio  Grande  Valley,  It  is  a  fresh  water  species,  frequenting  the 
ponds  and  creeks. 


I  IsT  ID  IE 


A. 

PAGE 

...        66 

Charadriidze    

PACK 

79 

.     .        45 

73 

^Egialitis 

74 

7° 

75 

Chicken  Plover 

80 

"         circumcincta      
montana    

....        76 

.     .     .     .        78 
.     .     .     .        71) 

Crymophilus  fulicarius  
Curlew  Sandpiper  
Jack  

....        32 
....        50 

.     .     .             68 

semipalmata      

....        75 
74 

Hudsonian    
Long-billed   

....         68 
67 

wilsonia     
American  Avocet    
Dunlin  

....        35 
....        48 

Sickle-bill  
Eskimo  

.     .     .     .        67 
....        70 

Oyster  Catcher      
Woodcock      

....         8-2 
....        38 

D. 

Aphriza  

....        79 

Doe  Bird     

.     .     .     .        70 

virgata  
Arenaria  interpres      

....        79 

....        80 
.     .        81 

Dough  Bird     
Dowitcher  
Dunlin 

....        70 
.     .     .     .        41 
.     .          .        49 

Arquatella  

....        44 

35 

E. 

English  Snipe     

.     .     .     .39,40 

B. 

Kami's  Sandpiper  
Bartramia  longicauda     
Bartram's  Sandpiper       
Beetle  Head    
Belted  Piping  Plover      

....        47 
....        64 
....        64 
....        72 

.     .     .     .        76 

Ereunetes   
occidentalis  
pusillus     
Eskimo  Curlew  
European  Dunlin    
European  Ruff    r  .    . 

.     .     .     .        51 
....        52 
.     .     .     .        51 
.     .     .     .        70 
.     .     .     .        49 
.     .     .     .        62 
39 

Black-bellied  Plover  
Black-breast  Plover    
Black  Turnstone     
Black  Oyster  Catcher      

....        72 
....         81 
....        83 

F. 

Field  Plover    

.     .     .     .        64 

Brant-bird        
Brown-back    

....         80 
....        41 

Frazar's  Oyster  Catcher      

.     .     .     .        83 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper    

....        65 

G. 

Bull  Peep    

....        53 

...        56 

c 

Godwit,  marbled     

.'".'..        54 

.     .        73 

Calico-back      

.     .                  80 

Goosebird  or  Godwit  

.     .     .     .        54 

Calidris  arenaria     . 

53 

Grass  Bird  .            

.    .    .    .        45 

88 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

o. 

Gray  Phalarope  

....        32 

PAGE 

Greater  Yellow-legs  

.    .    ,     .        57 

<  *\'^tor  <  'atcher 

.     .  82,  83 

Green  Plover  

....        73 

f'roen  Sh'ink 

...        58 

Gutter  Snipe  

....        39 

p. 

Pavoncella  pugnax     ".    . 

.     .        62 

H. 

Pectoral  Sandpiper     

.     .        45 

Peep    

.     .  51,52 

....        82 

ll:rinatopus  palliatus  

....        82 

1  clidna   .         
Phalaropes      

41) 
.     .        31 

Heteractitis  incanus    

....        61 

Phalarope,  Red  

.     .        32 

Himantopus  mexicanus  

....        37 

"            Grav 

.     .        32 

Hudsonian  Curlew  

....        68 

"             Northern  

.     .        33 

Hudsonian  Godwit  

....        56 

Wilson's   

.     .        34 

Humility,  or  Godwit  

....        56 

Phalaropida1   

31 

Humility      

....         60 

lobatus  

.     .        33 

tricolor      

.     .        34 

T 

Philohela  minor      

.     .        38 

)• 

Purple  Sandpiper  

.     .        44 

J'ic'm'1 

85 

Plover,  Green     

.     .        73 

. 

84  85 

Golden  

.     .        73 

Jack  Curlew    

....        68 

Belted  Piping   

.     .        76 

Jack  Snipe  

....        39 

Black-bellied     

72 

Black-breasted  ....    ;    .... 

.     .        72 

Field     "    .     .    .    . 

.     .        64 

K. 

Rilldeer     

.     .        75 

Killdee    

....        74 

Mountain  

.     .        78 

Killdeer  Plover  

....        74 

Piping  

.     .        75 

Knot 

43 

Ring-neck      

.     .        75 

Snowy 

.     .        76 

Semipalniated  

L. 

Upland      

.     .        64 

Wilson's 

Least  Sandpiper     

48 

'  J 

Lhuicola-      

....        31 

l,imn-a    

...             54 

R. 

fedoa     

....        54 

llM-ln.-l-lira        

....        56 

Recurvirostra  americana    

.     .        35 

lapponica  baueri  

.     .     .     .        55 

Red  Marlin      

.     .        54 

Long  billed  Curlew     
Long-billed  Dowitcher   

....        67 
....        41 

Red  Phalarope    
Red-breasted  Snipe    
Red-backed  Sandpiper  

.     .        32 
.     .        41 
.     .        49 

Rhyacophilus      

.     .        59 

M. 

'  Ring-neck   

.     .        75 

Robin  Snipe    

.     .        43 

Maci-orhainphus  .   '  

....        41 

Ruff     

.     .        62 

griseurt  

....        41 

srolopaccus  

....        41 

Marbled  Godwit  

....        54 

S. 

Mici-ii|i:ilani:i  lllinailtO])UH    
Mountain  Plover     
Marlin    

....        42 
....        78 
.     .         54 

Sanderling  
Sandpiper,  Bartramian  or  Bartram's     . 
Baird's  

.     .        53 
.     .        64 
.     .        47 

Buff-breasted    .    . 

,    .     .        65 

N. 

Curlew  

50 

Least    

48 

Nortlii-rn  Phalarope    

33 

Nnnifiiius    .... 

....        67 

Purple 

44 

l.»ri-alls     

70 

Rod  b'lckcd 

hudsoniciis    

68 

49 

longirostris    . 

«T 

Red-breasted     

43 

-  1 

INDEX. 


89 


Sandpiper,  —  Continued. 
Solitary      

PAGE 

...        59 

Tringa  —  Continued. 
alpina  paciflca  

PAGE 

48 

66 

bairdii 

Stilt 

42 

Western  semipalmated     

...        51 

ferruginea     

TO 

White-rumped  

...        4C 

fUSCiOOllis         .      .      . 

maculata  .    . 

45 

Seolopax  rusticola  

...        39 

inaritima  

....        44 

.     .     .        51 

minutilla 

48 

Sickle-bill  Curlew  

...        67 

Tryngites  subruficollis  

....        65 

Snipe 

38  39 

76 

Solitary  Sandpiper  

...        59 

U. 

Spotted  Sandpiper  
Stilt     
Stilt  Sandpiper    
Stone  Curlew  
Summer  Yellow-legs  
Surf  Bird 

...        66 
...        35 
...        4-2 

.     .     .        60 

...        58 
79 

Upland  Plover    

V. 

Wandering  Tattler     

....        64 
....        61 

Svinphemia  semipalmata    

...        60 

inornata     .    . 

T. 

Totanus  

.     .     .        57 
59 

Willet    
White-rumped  Sandpiper  
Wilson's  Snipe    
Plover  
Phalarope      
Willet 

....        61 
....        46 
....  39,40 

....        34 
60 

68 

Winter  Yellow-legs 

57 

melanoleucus    
nebularius     
solitarius  
Tringa     
alpina    

...        57 

.     .     .        58   " 
...        59 
...        43 
...        49 

Woodcock  

Y. 
Yellow-legs     

....        38 
.     .     .     .57,58 

2038 


2400 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


DEC  2 2  1959 

REC'D  COL.  im, 
00L  LIB.    MAR1 

MAR  6     1966 


81966 


• 


C±E  AUG251966 
62 


NOV24 
BBTDID-URC 


NOV  121971 


Form  L9-25m-9,'47(A5618)444 


UNIVEi.  KORN1A 

AT 

LOS  ANGKLtS 
LIBRARY 


•ipai 

AA    000479273    5 


PLEASE  DO  NOT  REMOVE 
THIS  BOOK  CARD   S 


University  Research  Library 


